Scientists studying a bacterium that causes scarlet fever, severe sore throat and a form of heart disease say they are closer to developing a vaccine that could one day prevent hundred of thousands of infections a year.
In a study in the journal Nature Genetics, scientists from Britain and Australia found detailed differences between strains of Group A Streptococcus bacteria — known as Strep A — from 22 countries, but also found several molecular targets common across many strains, offering potential for vaccine development.
Strep A is one of the world's top 10 causes of death from infectious diseases. It is estimated to cause more than half a million deaths every year.