MRF funds new research into a vaccine for Meningitis B

17 July 2009

New research funded by Meningitis Research Foundation seeks to use novel technology to develop an effective vaccine for the meningococcal B strain of meningitis. Meningococcal B (MenB) is responsible for the majority of cases in the UK and is not currently vaccine preventable.  

MenB vaccines on the horizon are expected to reduce meningococcal B disease, but are unlikely to provide universal protection.  For this reason, MenB vaccine research continues to be a top priority for the Foundation.

To date, the development of a vaccine against the meningococcal B strain has proved very difficult and continues to remain elusive due to the complex and variable nature of these bacteria. All successful meningitis vaccines so far have been based on the 'sugar' coat of the bacteria. The sugar coat of the Group B meningococcal bacteria is quite different to other strains, as it does not produce an immune response, so the same approaches cannot be applied to developing a B vaccine in a straightforward way. The majority of the research into a meningitis B vaccine has been based on molecules found on the surface of the bacteria, but this strategy has not worked very well in infants and young children (who are the highest risk group). This new research project takes a different approach by using a de-toxified version of molecules in the outer wall of the bacteria (in this case, a fat molecule linked a sugar which is among the ingredients that makes the bacteria's toxin). The aim is to develop a vaccine that will be both safe and effective at preventing the disease, especially in infants and young children.

Meningitis Research Foundation Chief Executive Christopher Head commented: "Tackling meningitis B remains a key focus for the Foundation and we hope this research will lead to some important results moving us one step closer to a world free from meningitis and septicaemia."

There are around 3,500 cases of meningitis and septicaemia - the blood poisoning form of the disease, every year in the UK. This means a death still occurs almost every day and a further two people are left with after effects that can be as severe as brain damage, hearing loss and amputations.

The lead scientist conducting the research is Dr Garth Dixon at the Institute of Child Health.

Read more about the project.

Media Contact:     
Dr Garth Dixon 0207 8138594 g.dixon@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Harpinder Collacott 01454 281811 or 07711 057875

Notes to Editor:

• Meningitis Research Foundation is currently funding 24 research projects into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia. The Foundation has spent £15.6 million on research since its inception in 1989 on 128 research projects.
• Meningitis Research Foundation operates a Freefone 24 hour helpline - 080 8800 3344 - providing information on meningitis and septicaemia to the general public and health professionals.

Symptoms of meningitis:
Fever; vomiting; severe headache; rash (not present in all cases); stiff neck*; dislike of bright lights*; very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious; seizures (fits) may also be seen. (*Unusual in young children.)

Symptoms of septicaemia (blood poisoning form of the disease):
Fever; vomiting; limb/joint/muscle pain (sometimes stomach pain/diarrhoea); pale or mottled skin; cold hands and feet; shivering; breathing fast/breathless; rash (anywhere on the body); very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious.
 
Other symptoms in babies include: tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot); refusing to feed; being irritable when picked up with a high pitched or moaning cry; a stiff body with jerky movements or else floppy and lifeless.