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Sheffield scientists in meningitis research
28 February 2005
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have been investigating why some people get meningitis and septicaemia, caused by the meningococcal bacteria, and not others.
This three-year research project, costing nearly £167,000, has been funded by Meningitis Research Foundation, a national charity which fights to prevent death and disability resulting from meningitis and septicaemia, the blood poisoning form.
Whilst it had previously been identified that certain human proteins are a vital part of our immune response, and at least one kind - Mannose Binding Lectin (MBL) - is involved in fighting off meningitis and septicaemia, caused by meningococcal bacteria, it was not known how these proteins operated.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have now discovered that human immune cells that patrol the back of the nose and throat where bacteria are likely to try to enter, are not as efficient in killing the bacteria that cause invasive disease when MBL is absent.
Dr Dominic Jack, lead researcher on the project said: "We already knew that people who are deficient in MBL are more prone to infections, including meningococcal disease. What this research has told us is that MBL enables our immune cells to capture and kill invading bacteria much more quickly. Now that we have positively identified the important role MBL plays in protecting us against disease, we hope to look at how other proteins, that are similar to MBL, can help to protect humans against disease. Knowledge of the reasons why certain people get meningitis and septicaemia might be used in the future to target new treatments for this disease."
Denise Vaughan, Chief Executive of Meningitis Research Foundation said, "We are delighted to have funded this research project which has provided us with vital knowledge of how the MBL protein defends us from meningitis and septicaemia. This valuable information is a step forward to providing signposts to new strategies for prevention and treatment, thereby saving lives."
Read more about this project:
Research Archive for the public - Immunity and susceptibility in meningococcal disease - the role of collectins
Research Archive for the scientific community - The role of the collectins in determining innate susceptibility to meningococcal disease