A University of Auckland-led study has challenged the long-held belief that the M-protein is the main target of protective immunity against all Strep A strains. In this article, researchers discuss their findings that while antibodies against the M-protein kill some strains, others are targeted by different bacterial components, suggesting a one-size-fits-all vaccine may not work. This discovery opens new directions for developing more effective vaccines by combining multiple targets.

Strep A, a common bacteria causing mild infections and serious diseases like rheumatic fever, affects many people and costs the health system millions annually. Understanding how immunity varies across strains will help design future vaccines to protect against this widespread and potentially dangerous bug.

Read full article here (paywalled article).

Credit: NZ Herald (22 October, 2023) What NZ scientists just learned about nasty Strep A bug with ‘strking’ differences. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/what-nz-scientists-just-learned-about-nasty-strep-a-bug-with-striking-differences/7ET7FOIZGZDIDOMDPIIXFLO2JU/