Scientists at the University of Michigan in the US have reported significant progress in developing vaccines against antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs. Their study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
A team of researchers has created a vaccine aimed at fighting infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Staphylococcus aureus is the cause of more than a hundred different diseases, including food poisoning, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis, many of which are life-threatening.
The new vaccine is based on a special carbohydrate compound, polysaccharide poly-β-(1-6)-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG), found in the cell walls of staphylococcus and other bacteria and fungi.
Bacteriophage Qβ was used to transport the vaccine to the target microbes. Given that carbohydrates do not typically trigger strong immune responses, the virus was genetically modified to enhance the immune response.
In preclinical testing on animals, the vaccine showed high effectiveness in stimulating the immune system and preventing deaths from MRSA infection.
