Genome Blueprint for Horse and Human Vaccines

Gluck Equine Research Center’s Dr. John Timoney co-authored a paper on vaccines for Streptococcus equi.
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Two strains of Streptococcus bacteria that have evolved to cause potentially fatal infections in either horses or humans share similar disease-causing mechanisms. Exploiting their genetic similarities could lead to novel vaccines for both man and animal, according to a review published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

Gluck Equine Research Center’s John Timoney, MVB, MRCVS, MS, PhD, co-authored the paper entitled, "Streptococcus equi: a pathogen restricted to one host." Andrew Waller, PhD, was the lead author, and Romain Paillot, PhD, was the other co-author. Both work with the Animal Health Trust’s Centre for Preventative Medicine in Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom.

Streptococcus pyogenes is responsible for tonsillitis, scarlet fever, and toxic shock syndrome in humans. Its equine equivalent, Streptococcus equi, infects horses, causing a disease called strangles. Each strain is well adapted to its particular host, yet their strategies for causing disease are remarkably similar.

Strangles is one of the most frequently diagnosed equine infectious diseases worldwide and costs thousands of dollars per horse to resolve. Streptococcus equi infects the lymph nodes in the head and the neck, leading to abscesses that can restrict the airways-giving the disease its name

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