University of Maryland Researches Potential E. Coli Vaccine
The medical school at the University of Maryland is researching a potential vaccine for e. coli and similar diarrheal diseases. Experts, Dr. Wilbur Chen and Dr. Eileen Barry, from the School of Medicine’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, will be testing a vaccine they helped develop. The intention for the vaccine is to fight the bacteria Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (e. coli). Dr. Chen released a statement explaining who would be a likely candidate for such a vaccine:.
“Our goal here is to develop a vaccine that can be delivered broadly to those who are most susceptible to the risks of these diseases”
Those that are immunocompromised include those who have HIV/AIDS, cancer, other immune diseases, as well as young children and the elderly.
“This is (also) something that can help serve the most vulnerable populations in low resource settings in sub-Sahara Africa and South Asia, where the disease burden is highest.”
This news release brings hope for the public during a time when recalls for e. coli contamination are being reported in produce and meat products. The University of Maryland also commented, assuring the public that they “will test the safety, tolerability and potential protection of oral doses of the prototype Shigella-ETEC vaccine.”
