Scientists Seek Urinary-Infection Vaccine
A vaccine against urinary tract infections (UTIs) shows promising results in tests with mice, researchers say. The vaccine fights infections caused by Escherichia coli bacteria. E. coli causes most simple UTIs. Mice who got the vaccine were protected from UTIs. The vaccine is given in the nose. It causes an immune reaction in a type of body tissue called mucosa, which is found in the nose and the urinary tract. The vaccine is made so that specific proteins on the surface of E. coli bacteria trigger the immune reaction. Most types of E. coli have these proteins. Therefore, researchers think the vaccine will protect against many UTIs. Study results were published in the journal PLoS Pathogens. HealthDay News wrote about the study September 18.