Decades of research on bacterial diarrhea yields new vaccine technology
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The decades-long effort to develop a vaccine against one of the world’s leading causes of severe digestive diseases has reached a milestone, according to new research.
Scientists recently developed technology to target enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), a bacteria responsible for millions of diarrheal illnesses each year.
The technology was licensed to French vaccine manufacturer Valneva for further development.
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The findings follow decades of research by scientists at the University of Bergen and the Norwegian Research Center (NORCE).
ETEC, one of the most common bacterial causes of severe diarrhea worldwide, is known to disproportionately affect children in low- and middle-income countries. Despite years of research, there is currently no widely effective vaccine to prevent infection, according to the study.
Researchers have achieved a major breakthrough in the decades-long effort to develop a vaccine against ETEC, the leading cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. (iStock)
The researchers focused on a toxin produced by ETEC, which has long been considered one of the biggest hurdles to vaccine development.
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St. The findings represent a promising step, said James Fleckenstein, MD, professor of medicine and molecular microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
“We still have a lot of work to do to translate these findings into a real vaccine,” Fleckenstein, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital. “But this approach looks promising in that the proteins elicit strong antibody responses that protect against diarrheal disease after initial infection in children in developing countries.”
ETEC is the leading bacterial cause of severe diarrhea worldwide, especially among children in low- and middle-income countries. (iStock)
If the vaccine eventually reaches patients, researchers hope it could help protect children against some of the most serious diarrheal illnesses caused by ETEC.
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In the meantime, Fleckenstein said travelers can take steps to reduce their risk of diarrheal illnesses. It recommends avoiding high-risk foods, including food from street vendors, in areas where sanitation may be poor, drinking bottled water in high-risk areas, and practicing good hand hygiene.
While a vaccine is still years away, experts recommend avoiding high-risk foods, drinking bottled water and washing your hands to reduce the risk of ETEC. (iStock)
Fleckenstein also noted that vaccines are available to protect against typhoid and said travelers should consult their doctors before traveling internationally.
The researchers noted that the study had some limitations.
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The technology is still under development and has not yet been tested in the public as an approved vaccine.
While the licensing agreement will allow Valneva to continue advancing the research, additional laboratory studies, clinical trials and regulatory reviews will be required before the vaccine is available.
