Can a vaccine for moms protect infants from a deadly superbug?

Researchers have found that vaccinating pregnant mice could provide newborns with protection against the deadly superbug, Klebsiella pneumoniae. This bacterium is responsible for thousands of infant deaths annually in low- and middle-income countries, as well as being a leading cause of child mortality worldwide. It is particularly dangerous as it becomes increasingly resistant to antibiotics, making it difficult to treat.

There is currently no vaccine available to prevent infection. The study, published in Science Advances, offers a promising strategy by harnessing maternal immunity to protect vulnerable infants. According to the study's senior author, David A. Rosen, a vaccine targeting two dangerous strains of K. pneumoniae, K1 and K2, was effective in preventing infection in newborn mice when their mothers were immunized during pregnancy.

The vaccinated mice had a survival rate of over 80% compared to less than 35% in unvaccinated mice. The protection was attributed to the transfer of vaccine-specific antibodies from the mothers to their offspring through breast milk. The researchers are now developing updated vaccines to shield against multiple strains of the superbug, aiming to bring human clinical trials closer to a solution for global health.

The research was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Gates Foundation, and the Washington University Department of Pediatrics.