Silent Strep A infections may explain immunity gained by adulthood
Exposure to Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) that causes mild or no symptoms can trigger the body's immune response and naturally build protection, potentially solving a nearly 100-year-old mystery of immunity.
A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that exposure to Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A), even when symptoms are mild or absent, can lead to the development of long-lasting immunity throughout adulthood. Researchers from Griffith University and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute examined how immunity evolved over time as infection rates decreased with age.
They discovered that both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals developed strong immune responses to the specific strain they were exposed to, even though the body does not develop general protection against all 250 strains of Strep A. This process of "silent infection" allows the immune system to remember and combat the bacteria over a lifetime, potentially explaining why most adults are immune to Strep A despite experiencing only a few episodes of tonsillitis in their lives.
The study's findings could contribute to efforts to prevent rheumatic heart disease and address health disparities, particularly among Indigenous Australians who experience higher rates of these conditions.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
