Superbug vaccine 'shows promise'

Researchers in the United States have developed a vaccine that may help protect angainst MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The vaccine was tested on mice and protected against four different strands of MRSA. According to the team, the study could lead to a human vaccine. The disease is a major problem all over the world. It strikes in hospitals frequently because many patients immune systems are weak. It is difficult to fight because of its resistance to various antibiotics. The team used "reverse vaccinology" to make the vaccine. They sifted throught the bacterias genome for proteins that create a strong response in the immune system. They found four proteins that were good targets for vaccines. Dr Jodi Lindsay, a critic, said,"The researchers did not look at a good cross-section of strains of MRSA - there are several families of MRSA, each containing many different strains, and the team only looked at a few US-specific strains." Irregardless, there is a great need for a vaccine for MRSA. It has managed to develop protective measurements for new treatments with legendary speed and accuracy. I found this article very interesting because I worked in a hospital last summer. MRSA is indeed a real problem. Any patient with this infection is placed under extreme isolation precautions. Many patients do end up dying from this disease.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6098210.stm