Live attenuated E. coli K1 vaccine for neonatal meningitis

Pre-conception vaccination with a live attenuated clinical strain of Escherichia coli K1 lacking the virulence factor E. coli aroA, an enzyme involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and iron capture, could help prevent neonatal meningitis by inducing maternal polyclonal antibodies that are passed to offspring.

In female mice, intraperitoneal injection with E. coli K1 lacking aroA reduced bacterial virulence 10- to 1000-fold compared with injection of wild-type E. coli K1 and non-K1 meningitis strains. ...