Wright, Adam (2009) 'Mucosal perspectives in pneumococcal vaccine development: A meeting summary: A one-day international workshop focusing on stimulating research and collaborations on this topic.'. Vaccine, Vol 28, Issue 1, pp. 2-6.
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Text (Conference report inluding meeting summary)
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Abstract
1. Introduction
The natural reservoir for Streptococcus pneumoniae (the ‘pneumococcus’) is the human nasopharynx and is believed to be a pre-requisite for mucosal (otitis media and pneumonia) and invasive disease (Bacteraemia and meningitis) [1]. Recent WHO estimates suggest that the pneumococcus is the leading cause of death in the under 5 age groups world-wide, with the majority of these in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia [2]. The dynamics between the nasopharyngeal mucosal immune system and microbial colonisers such as the pneumococcus need to be understood in order to develop reliable markers of vaccine efficacy and protection, and also to correctly formulate mucosal vaccines and/or adjuvants. Due to drawbacks with currently available polysaccharide based vaccines, efforts are underway within the research community to develop a new, possibly inhaled, vaccine(s) that will utilise pneumococcal proteins conserved across different polysaccharide serotypes, together with appropriate adjuvants for application into humans [3]. On a wet Thursday morning the doors of the Liverpool Medical Institute were opened to mark the opening of the workshop attended by 69 delegates from institutions across the UK, Switzerland, Finland, Cyprus, Israel and Malawi. Proceedings commenced inside the auditorium with a welcome note delivered on behalf of the organising committee by Dr Adam Wright (BRC). Dr Wright emphasised the main aim of the day – ‘collaborative discussions’ – hoping that the workshop would provide a stimulus towards the development of new and exciting research collaborations amongst the delegates. Michael Head (Infectious Disease Research Network) subsequently took the lead to highlight the role of the IDRN, specifically the promoting and fostering of new and existing collaborations, and the stimulation of multidisciplinary research. In addition Mr Head thanked the sponsors – GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth and Sanofi Pasteur – for their financial support in staging the workshop.
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