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The First Vaccine Developed Using Reverse Vaccinology

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Magdalena Kedzior November 23, 2015 PCOL 571A Bexsero: The first vaccine developed using Reverse Vaccinology Meningococcal disease is a life serious and life-threatening infection that is a problem amongst children and young adults. The infection is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis which is a gram negative β proteobacterium with a distinct diplcoccus morphology. This bacteria is an obligate human bacterial pathogen that normally resides in the human nasopharynx making humans the only natural reservoir. It can also be transmitted from person to person by close contact such as kissing or the simple sharing of a beverage. In most cases the bacteria doesn’t infect the host and will rarely lead to an invasive disease but factors such as the lack of immune defenses can alter this pattern. Neisseria meningitidis is the cause of the majority of cases of meningitis in the United States with children and young adults having the most impact. The United States alone sees 800-1500 cases annually. Worldwide, there are 1.2 million cases of meningococcal infections per year with a death toll of ~135,000. The rates of disease occur most frequently in newborns and children under 1 years of age. The number of incidences will decline and peak again between the ages of 15 and 25. This disease is found worldwide and has the most impact in sub-Saharan Africa where treatment isn’t readily available. Treatment of the infection must be done right away because it is seen as a medical

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