Study Finds Shigella Vaccine Clues in Primate Diarrhea Outbreak Data
Researchers used data from a two-year diarrhea outbreak in more than 150 primates to identify bacterial targets and antibody binding sites, advancing Shigella vaccine design.
The researchers isolated specific molecular pieces of the bacteria that corresponded to effective, germ-busting immune responses. They then mapped the precise indentations within these molecular targets that were recognized by the strongest antibodies. That level of detail could aid the rational design of vaccine candidates against Shigella, a bacterial cause of severe diarrhea.
The study appears in Science Translational Medicine. The authors say the work 'revealed unexpected features of the anti-Shigella antibody response in naturally infected [non-human primates] and represents a step toward the rational design of Shigella vaccine candidates.' The Ars Technica report did not identify the research center or its location.