American scientists from the University of California tested a vaccine against the Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria, which causes serious melioidosis in mice. Inhaling even small amounts of these germs can cause pneumonia, which can be fatal. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine mBio.
Approximately 165 thousand cases of melioidosis infection are recorded every year in the world, 89 thousand of which result in the death of the patient. Burkholderia pseudomallei is recognized as a Tier 1 agent of bioterrorism. If attackers spray these microorganisms into a crowded area, the attack can cause many casualties.
The researchers developed the vaccine using a bacterial vector called LVSΔ capB as a platform that expresses highly immunogenic B. pseudomallei proteins that can trigger an immune response that protects the host from disease when infected with the pathogen.
LVS Δ capB, derived from a weakened form of the tularemia or “rabbit fever” vaccine, was developed as a vector platform to create vaccines against other diseases caused by selected stage 1 agents, such as anthrax, plague, and tularemia itself.
Tests on mice showed that the vaccine was safe and non-toxic both when injected and administered nasally. However, the second method provided better protection with a single dose.
The next step will be to test the vaccine against pneumonic melioidosis in other animals, after which it will be possible to test the effectiveness of the drug in humans.
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