Personal Injury Law

Breakthrough Moves Closer to Campylobacter Vaccine

We don't get to report on a lot of good news here. Today, we do, though. The Washington Post is reporting that Navy scientist Patricia Guerry has made 'discoveries that could lead to the first vaccine' for campylobacter jejuni. According to the report, such a vaccine could 'potentially save tens of thousands of young lives in developing countries where the pathogen has proved deadly.'

Campylobacter jejuni is also a common illness in the U.S. In rare cases, it can lead to the development of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS).   GBS is a very serious illness that causes nerve paralysis.

According to the Post:

The vaccine candidate against the pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, developed by Guerry, her colleagues at the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring and Canadian scientist Mario Monteiro, successfully protected against infection in monkeys during testing last year and is slated for human clinical trials.

If the vaccine becomes a reality, it would be significant step forward in reducing foodborne illness in the U.S. and internationally.

Full post as published by Campylobacter Blog on August 25, 2009 (boomark / email).