Scientists believe they are moving closer to finding a universal vaccine to kill off the bug that causes meningitis.

The experts, from the Children’s Hospital, Boston in the US say that the new vaccine targets proteins which will tell the body to produce immune cells which stop the bug taking hold. It is hoped that this will be more effective than current vaccines which trick the body into developing antibodies against the sugar which coats the bug. However, as different strains have different sugars, the antibodies can be defeated in this way.

The streptococcus pneumonia bug causes meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia and kills over a million young children in developing countries each year. Meningitis affects 3,000 a year in Britain alone and kills 300.

The scientists are led by Dr Richard Malley, who has spent over 10 years trying to develop the vaccine. He said that clinical trials of the new vaccine will start once the recipe has been perfected. He added: “Our approach has the advantage of potentially providing protection regardless of the country.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1357807/Meningitis-vaccine-bea...