Hi, I'm Gillian, MRF's Research Officer.
Why is it that while most people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat, only a few will go on to be affected by meningococcal disease?
Of those who develop an infection, why is there such a range of severity?
It has become clear to scientists that the answer to both questions lies at least partly in our genes. Different people will react in different ways to the presence of bacteria in their body. Some will be able to restrict meningococcal bacteria to the nose and throat while others will develop severe disease.
Since 1995, MRF has committed over £500,000 to genetic research in this area.
Professor Michael Levin at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London has conducted several projects looking the specific genes involved in determining why some people can control infection and others can’t.
This has been done by comparing the DNA of affected patients with the DNA of healthy people as controls. Finding out which genes differ between the two groups indicates the possible mechanisms and processes that are important in limiting the progression of meningitis and septicaemia. Knowing this may lead on to the development of new therapies or vaccines.
In the long term, knowledge of genetic susceptibility will highlight who is at risk and may enable individual treatment regimes to be introduced.
The group has looked at two broad groups of genes: those that affect people’s susceptibility to disease and those that affect severity.
In their first project, the results of DNA comparison between severely and less severely affected patients along with healthy controls highlighted certain genes that were associated with either susceptibility or severity.
In subsequent projects the group looked at these genes in more detail and focussed on those with specific functions:
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Immune system detection of meningococcal bacteria
- Activation of immunity towards these bacteria
- Blood pressure regulation and ways in which the body fights the catastrophic effects of septicaemia on the circulatory system.
Those genes which are associated with susceptibility could be used to identify vaccine candidates. Those associated with determining severity may be investigated as part of treatment development.
A very important aspect of this work is the development of a new library of patient samples and data.
MRF has a large and active member base and many members volunteered to take part in Professor Levin’s research. Over the years, MRF, along with other organisations, has invested in creating a uniquely large database of genetic information specifically linked to meningitis and septicaemia. This does, and will in the future, allow scientists to compare genetic data more quickly and efficiently.
Work in this area is still ongoing, with the latest MRF-funded project starting this summer, allowing Professor Levin and his team to analyse the large amount of complex genetic data collected
It has become clear that the processes involved during infection are more complicated than previously thought, however results from this research suggest that each disease utilises a different set of genes which varies with age, duration of illness, stage, and severity.
Continued MRF funding will allow better understanding of meningitis and septicaemia, which itself can only serve to improve future treatment and ultimately prevention of disease.
Posted in About meningitis & septicaemia by Gillian Currie on 09 August 2010
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