Image by Sintija Valucka from Pixabay
We may see a Salmonella vaccine for humans soon. Researchers from the University of Florida are working to make this happen. That, and the technology to deploy it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that every year there are around 1.35 million Salmonella infections reported in the United States. This potentially life-threatening bacterial infection causes 26,500 hospitalizations and claims 420 deaths each year.
Most of these illnesses are caused by either consuming contaminated food or water or touching infected animals or their feces.
There has been work on Salmonella vaccine in poultry. An attempt at reducing the incidence of gross Salmonella contamination at the source. This has been commonly used in the poultry industry for several years.
There is a vaccine for typhoidal Salmonella (the pathogen responsible for Typhoid Fever), but so far, there has been no available non-typhoidal Salmonella vaccine for people. A move that can be a game changer is preventing foodborne illnesses, especially in the more vulnerable populations.
Here’s what we know so far about research on a Salmonella vaccine for humans.
Microbiology researchers from The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences recently published a study that will likely advance research toward a Salmonella vaccine for humans.
The findings of the study are aimed at a vaccine that will protect against non-typhoidal strains of Salmonella bacterial infections. An illness for which there is no current vaccine. A move that can also reduce incidence of antibiotic-resistant strains by helping reduce the need for pharmaceutical antibiotics. This can help protect the more vulnerable populations.
Anyone exposed to Salmonella bacteria can become sick. But certain people are more likely to become sick if exposed, and experience more severe symptoms if infected.
These include:
For these people, Salmonella infections can be especially dangerous. The outcome becomes more dire if antibiotic resistant strains are involved.
For this study, mice were vaccinated through their noses using the innovative approach of small extracellular vesicles (particles created by cells to communicate with one another). These nanoparticles are a novel technology designed to mimic the body’s own physiology, that has been recently exploited as a drug delivery method.
This recent study built on a previous research that tested a Salmonella vaccine against lab-derived strains of Salmonella. A reasonable starting point. Only this step in the research pathway, a different exposure source was used.
These Florida researchers exposed vaccinated mice subjects to Salmonella obtained from the local environment.
More specifically, the wastewater system of Gainesville, Florida. This variable was included to test “real-world strains” against the effectiveness of the vaccine.
It worked!
In addition to successfully measuring antibodies against these microbes in mice, other supporting information was revealed.
The role small extracellular vesicles play in the immune system was also highlighted. This proves to be an important step towards better understanding the immune system.
This successful experiment demonstrates the potential effectiveness of a vaccine against multiple strains and genotypes of Salmonella bacteria in addition to the effectiveness of this novel vaccine delivery system.
The research can go in a few different directions from here. For now, these researchers are continuing their pursuit to better understand these small extracellular vesicles and their role in the immune system.
Future research could elevate the mouse model to a human model. A move that would bring a Salmonella vaccine a step closer to reality.
Salmonella infections can happen anytime someone consumes or comes in contact with Salmonella or something contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The more common sources of Salmonella infection comes from food, animals, and other people.
Any food can become contaminated. There are, however, certain foods that have been linked more often to Salmonella outbreaks than others.
These worst offenders include:
While the top offending foods may be a risk factor, Salmonella has also been linked to animals exposure. Even indirect contact with animals. This is not limited to livestock. Though chickens and cows are some of the more common animal vehicles.
Always wash your hands after contact with animals or where they live. Also, NEVER eat or drink in an animal’s habitat.
A sick person can easily spread Salmonella.
In fact, some outbreaks have been traced back to sick food workers. Always wash your hands after using the toilet, changing diapers, or helping others in the bathroom.
Those experiencing Salmonella infection symptoms should not prepare food or drinks for others until diarrhea symptoms have passed to avoid further spreading the illness.
Symptoms and their severity of a Salmonella infection may vary from person to person. Most normally healthy people only experience mild symptoms and generally recover on their own without medical intervention. Others may experience more serious illness and require medical treatment or even hospitalization to recover.
Common symptoms of Salmonella infection include:
These symptoms usually begin between six hours and six days after exposure to contaminated food. Most people feel better within a week (four to seven days).
Only those with severe symptoms or at higher risk of severe symptoms typically receive antibiotic treatment.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Could We See a Salmonella Vaccine for Humans Soon?,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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