Binding and functional serum antibodies to Shigella antigens and the risk of shigellosis in a cohort of Zambian children in the first 3 years of life

Summary 

Shigella is a major cause of severe diarrhoea and dysentery worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where it leads to 190 million cases each year and causes 11% of diarrhoea-related deaths. It is often linked to malnutrition and can negatively affect children’s physical and mental development. Currently, no licensed vaccine exists for Shigella, and treatment relies on rehydration and antibiotics, but resistance to antibiotics is becoming a big problem.

Efforts to create a vaccine are underway, with some potential vaccines being tested in children in these countries. It’s important to understand how the disease spreads and how the body naturally fights it in areas where vaccines will be used.

In our study, we are building on earlier research in Zambia, where we tracked Shigella antibodies in infants. We will now follow a new group of children from 6 weeks to 3 years old. Our goal is to study how the body’s immune system responds to Shigella through antibodies during natural exposure to the bacteria.

We will use blood and stool samples from 214 Zambian infants who were part of a vaccine trial. These samples were taken at different ages and will help us understand how Shigella infections are linked to antibody levels and the body’s immune response. This research will inform the development of future vaccines and help characterize the antibodies needed to protect young children from Shigella.