Vaccine experts report progress in vaccine development.(Brief Article)

2002 JUL 24 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Leading vaccine scientists from around the world met in Baltimore for the 5th annual Conference on Vaccine Research and will report on the latest research on familiar killers such as pneumococcal, meningococcal, and group A streptococcal disease, influenza, hepatitis, and HIV and human papillomavirus infections, as well as new approaches to vaccine discovery and improving vaccine effectiveness.

"The pace of scientific discovery in vaccine research is unprecedented, and the emerging results have the potential to reduce the burden of disease attributable to infection, cancer, and other diseases," according to David A. Neumann, PhD of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), which sponsors the 3-day conference. "The research reported here represents cutting edge developments in the field, and holds great promise for improving public health both in the U.S. and abroad."

Among the findings: A new vaccine against group A streptococcus was found to be safe in the human phase I study.

Group A streptococcus (GrAS) is a type of bacterium responsible for "strep throat," a variety of common skin infections, and, less commonly, necrotizing fasciitis ("flesh eating disease"), and toxic shock syndrome. GrAS infections are also associated with post-streptococcal syndromes, including rheumatic fever, arthritis, and kidney, and nervous system disorders. Infections by Group A streptococci result in 25-35 million doctor visits each year in the U.S. and are especially common in children. There currently is no vaccine that protects children against GrAS infections.

Dr. Shelley McNeil of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada described the first study in humans of a new 26-valent vaccine that is intended to prevent GrAS infection. "This vaccine is comprised of four recombinant proteins that represent 26 GrAS serotypes that are commonly associated with pharyngitis, invasive, and rheumatic disease," said McNeil. After extensive testing in animals, the vaccine was given to 30 healthy adults in the study conducted by McNeil, Dr. Scott Halperin, and colleagues at the Clinical Trials Research Center of the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

The vaccine was given at 0, 1, and 4 months and each recipient underwent extensive clinical and laboratory evaluation to assess the safety of the vaccine and its ability to stimulate an immune response. McNeil said, "There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of rhematogenicity or nephritogenicity and there was no induction of human tissue-reactive antibodies." She continued, "As is typical of similarly formulated vaccines, recipients experienced some injection site redness, induration, and discomfort, but these did not prevent ...