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Potential vaccine for "superbug"8 November 2006 A vaccine against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria could be available in the future according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. US scientists have isolated proteins in mouse cells to produce a vaccine for MRSA. The vaccine protected mice against MRSA strains taken from human infections. What is S. aureus?Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common form of bacteria. It is estimated that one in three healthy people carry it on their skin, in their nose or in the back of their throat. What is MRSA?MRSA is the name given to (S. aureus) bacteria that are resistant to medicines called methicillin-type antibiotics. MRSA bacteria are sometimes referred to as "superbugs". How did MRSA become resistant to methicillin-type antiobiotics?When bacteria encounter an antibiotic (such as methicillin) some of the bacteria can survive and gain resistance to the antibiotic. This is because bacteria can mutate (adapt); these bacteria can then multiply and infect other people. How does MRSA cause an infection?When S. aureus enters the body it can cause an infection. This can be via medical devices such as catheters and through open wounds. What types of infection does MRSA cause?Infections can range from boils or abscesses, to more serious infections such as septicaemia (the most severe form of blood stream infection) and joint and bone infections. Is MRSA more dangerous than other types of infection?MRSA is no more dangerous than other types of S. aureus infection. However infections can become more severe because they can take longer to treat. This is due to the limited types of antibiotic available to treat the infection, and the time that is needed to find an antibiotic that will work effectively. Who is at risk of MRSA?MRSA infections generally occur in hospitals and particularly in patients who have lowered immunity, or that have breaks in their skin from surgical procedures. The risk of serious MRSA infections in healthy people is low. How is MRSA treated?Most types of MRSA can be treated with other antibiotics. These antibiotics are given directly into the vein and the course of treatment can last for several weeks. Sometimes boils or abscesses can be drained and antibiotics are not needed. How does the vaccine work?In mice, agents in the vaccine were found to cause the immune (disease fighting) system to recognise the bacteria and react by developing antibodies to fight the infection. How effective was the vaccine in mice?When mice were given the combined vaccine and exposed to the S. aureus strains, 60-100 percent survived, depending on which strain they were exposed to. Between 0-40 percent of mice that had been given a mock version of the vaccine survived. However, only a limited number of MRSA strains were tested, some of which have only been identified in the US. When could a vaccine be available?The research cited in the Procedure for the National Academy of Sciences is in the early stages of development and is based on animal trials. It may be a number of years before a human vaccine is available. However, this research does offer hope that a vaccine to prevent MRSA infections could be possible in the future. Sources
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