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Oxford scientists in meningitis research
27 July 2005
Collaboration between scientists in the Oxford University Department of Zoology and the Oxford Vaccine Group in the Department of Paediatrics has made a significant step forward in the search for a vaccine against Group B meningococcal disease, the biggest cause of severe life-threatening meningitis in the UK.
For a long time, doctors and scientists have suspected that Neisseria lactamica, a harmless germ carried mostly by children under the age of five years, is the key to the development of natural immunity to meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). If this is true, this harmless bacterium may provide a route to the development of new vaccines against its dangerous relative.
In a two-year project , funded by Meningitis Research Foundation thanks to a very generous donation from the Oddfellows Friendly Society, a team of scientists at Oxford University set about the task of understanding more fully how children become exposed to lactamica.
The study examined children in their first two years of life and researchers found that once they were colonised with a particular type of the harmless germ, they carried that type harmlessly in their noses for a prolonged period of time, rather than losing one type quickly and picking up other types. It was also found that babies typically caught lactamica from their brothers and sisters or other children rather than their parents.
Said Professor Martin Maiden, lead researcher and Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow: "This research has pioneered the use of cutting-edge genetic techniques to develop a system to categorise lactamica. We found a genetic variation amongst different lactamica, similar to the variation found amongst meningococci. These findings have very encouraging implications for the development of new meningococcal vaccines."
Denise Vaughan, the charity's Chief Executive said: "Meningitis Research Foundation's vision is a world free from meningitis and septicaemia. We are delighted to have funded this research which may well help in providing answers in the search for a vaccine against Group B meningococcal disease, taking us a step closer to our vision."
Read more about this project:
Research Archive for the public -Study of bacteria related to the meningococcus: could this harmless meningococcal cousin form the basis for a vaccine?
Research Archive for the scientific community - Population study of Neisseria lactamica in infants and small children
Media Contacts:
Julia Warren, Meningitis Research Foundation - 01454 281811 or 07711 057875
Grace Haydon, Oxford University Press Office - 01865 280534
Notes to Editor:
- Meningitis Research Foundation is grateful to the Oddfellows Friendly Society for providing £50,000 donation to fund this project.
- Meningitis Research Foundation is a national charity currently funding 21 research projects in the UK and internationally with a total value in excess of £2.5 million, and has by far the largest commitment of any meningitis charity.
- Meningitis Research Foundation operates a Freefone 24 hour helpline - 080 8800 3344 - providing information on meningitis and septicaemia to the general public and health professionals.
- Information on meningitis and septicaemia is available on the Foundation's world renowned website in 18 languages with an interpretation service in 120 languages available through the helpline.
- For further information about the Oddfellows - www.oddfellows.co.uk
- Meningitis Research Foundation relies on voluntary donations to fund its work.