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Scientists discover how meningitis defeats our immune system
22 May 2007
Research funded by Meningitis Research Foundation and published in Infection and Immunity sheds important light on how meningococcal bacteria - the main cause of life-threatening meningits and septicaemia - are able to overwhelm the body's defences.
Meningococcal bacteria live in the back of the noses and throats of many of us, and in most cases this is harmless. Normally, our own immune systems get rid of them. Our antibodies play a major role in this process.
A research team at the University of Sheffield Medical School, led by Professor Jon Sayers, has discovered that more aggressive strains of the bacteria produce large quantities of a substance called IgA protease that can attack our antibodies and help the bacteria gain a stronger foothold, so that they can enter the bloodstream.
But Professor Sayers and his team, in their three-year project, have shown that IgA protease could attack and disable many types of human proteins - a far wider range of targets than previously thought.
Professor Sayers said: "Our work shows that the substance secreted by the bacteria could attack us in more ways than originally thought, and may be key to the development of disease."
Foundation Chief Executive, Denise Vaughan, commented: "This study gives us a greater understanding about how meningococcal bacteria cause meningitis and septicaemia. We hope this will enable scientists to develop new strategies to eliminate the bacteria before they make us ill."
Media Contact: Julia Warren 01454 281811 or 07711 057875
Professor Jon Sayers 0114 271 2327
Read more about this project:
Research Archive for the public -Study of the meningococcal bacteria's antibody-buster: new possibilities for preventing or reducing damage from meningitis and septicaemia
Research Archive for the scientific community - Pathogenic significance of meningococcal IgA1 protease
Notes to Editor:
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Meningitis Research Foundation has current and future commitments of over £2 million and has spent almost £11 million on research since it was founded in 1989.
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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.
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Information on meningitis and septicaemia is also available on this website in 18 languages. An interpretation service in 120 languages is available through the 24 hour helpline.
Symptoms of meningitis:
Fever; vomiting; severe headache; rash (not present in all cases); stiff neck*; dislike of bright lights*; very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious; seizures (fits) may also be seen. (*Unusual in young children.)
Symptoms of septicaemia (blood poisoning form of the disease):
Fever; vomiting; limb/joint/muscle pain (sometimes stomach pain/diarrhoea); pale or mottled skin; cold hands and feet; shivering; breathing fast/breathless; rash (anywhere on the body); very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious.
Other symptoms in babies include: tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot); refusing to feed; being irritable when picked up with a high pitched or moaning cry; a stiff body with jerky movements or else floppy and lifeless.