Enhancing vaccine immunity: modelling with Streptococcus

Group A streptococcal associated diseases and serious pathology including rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are responsible for more than 500,000 deaths each year. In animal models vaccine mediated immunity is specific to the site of vaccine administration. However, the data from endemic settings suggest that skin infection might protect from pharyngitis. The understanding of immune mechanisms would help design and develop a vaccine that would protect at both sites of GAS infection.