Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) scientists (along with scientists all over the world), study infectious diseases (ID) and have done so well before COVID-19. The global pandemic keeps science at the forefront of day-to-day activities and news coverage. Science is a subject that seeks to understand the how’s and why’s of objects so small they require microscopes to be see. The technical language requires several dictionaries to translate words not used in everyday conversations.
The pandemic shifted research focus all over the world. Through the efforts of many, there are vaccines available today. The other IDs are not sitting on the bench watching COVID-19 score all the points. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infectious diseases kill over 17 million people every year and many of the diseases can be prevented or cured. Over 300 NMRC researchers spend their days looking for the methods and means to combat over 100 IDs.
ID researchers’ professional lives are busy studying things invisible to the eye. Without the numerous years of sample gathering, observing, testing, and clinical trials the vaccines and medications that allow the human body to combat infectious diseases would not exist.
NMRC’s Infectious Disease Directorate is staffed with 105 researchers studying COVID-19 Health Action Response for Marines, Emerging Diseases, Malaria, Viral, Rickettsia (parasitic bacteria- ticks), Wound Infections, and Enteric (intestinal) diseases. Malaria is not prevalent in North America but many others are in abundance.
What causes these diseases? What do they do to the body? How do they spread? These are some of the questions answered through years of research. There are organisms that cause disease and have the ability to make humans sick. These organisms are called Pathogens. They have two objectives: surviving as long as possible and spreading sickness. Pathogens are skilled multitaskers and extremely intelligent!
In order to survive, pathogens colonize (take over) the host. For the pathogen to strive in its new environment it must find a place to hide, feed and grow. It also must avoid the body’s defense and ultimately it needs to be free to infect others.
Infectious diseases are diseases caused by pathogens. There are four types of pathogens: Virus (COVID-19), Parasites (Malaria), Fungi (Ringworm) and Bacteria (Campylobacter jejuni (pronounced campillowbacktur/C. jejuni- diarrhea). Infectious diseases can spread through skin contact, bodily fluids, airborne particles, contact with feces, and touching a surface touched by an infected person. The handling and consumption of uncooked chicken is believed to be the main source of transmission to human.
Dr. Frédéric Poly, NMRC Enterics Department Head’s 20-year career is concentrated on the study of C. jejuni and E. coli. As an intestinal pathogen, C. jejuni can be deadly and this warrants the need for further studies. Most people ingest a chalky substance when dealing with diarrhea and that is usually enough to rid the body of the symptoms. The diarrhea causing bacteria warrant further study. According to the WHO website, diarrhea kills around 525,000 children under the age of five annually.
“Diarrheal diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children living in low- to middle-income countries,” said Poly. “There are non-pathogenic E. coli and pathogenic; C. jejuni and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) are pathogenic bacteria responsible for a large proportion of diarrheal disease in these countries.”
The study of diseases does not simply stop after preventative medications and cures are in place. Many diseases develop resistance to antibiotic treatment invoking the need for additional research in order to beat the resistance.
According to Dr. Poly, C. jejuni’s resistance to first line antibiotic treatment has doubled in 20 years and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with WHO consider Campylobacter (C. jejuni) a serious threat.
Collaborative partnerships in research are common. Numerous different agencies and companies with common goals come together for a study that will benefit many. Dr. Poly is currently collaborating with with Lumen Bioscience on a CARBX-funded three-year study of C. jejuni and E. coli strains.
The study aims to produce a preventative oral medication that will stop enteric bacterial infections, reducing usage of antibiotic for treatment and subsequently reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. The scope of the study combines NMRC’s Enterics Department research experience with C. jejuni with Lumen Bioscience’s mission to discover, develop and manufacture oral antibody therapeutics for prevalent, worldwide diseases and the CARBX mission to accelerate antibacterial research to tackle the global rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.
The grant covers the period of time necessary for sequencing and evaluation, production of the proteins and antibodies, evaluation of the antibodies and the effectiveness of the antibodies in preventing diarrheal disease.
In scientific circles, C.jejuni is an understudied pathogen as it was a ‘late’ arrival. One of the main reasons is the difficulty to isolate and grow C. jejuni in the laboratory.
“It wasn’t until the late 70’s scientists developed procedures to separate and cultivate C.jejuni. It is also very different from other intestinal pathogens: “If ETEC was a mammal, Campylobacter would be a bird. Shigella, Salmonella and ETEC are related to non-pathogenic E.coli and more is known about their capacity to overcome a host’s defenses and cause disease. They are bacteria that acquired genes that made them go bad,” Poly explains.
C.jejuni is different in appearance as well. It looks like a corkscrew with a tail called a flagellum. The flagellum vibrates and the vibration allows it to move through mucus layers found in the gut of the host as it finds a spot to settle down. ETEC is capsule shaped with multiple flagella.
“These intestinal pathogens are also a primary cause of traveler’s diarrhea in adults and result in enormous financial burden for travelers and deployed military personnel. Thus, there is a great need for vaccines, preventatives and therapeutics to target these persistent pathogens,” Poly said.
It is not common to talk about it and can be quite embarrassing to discuss yet anyone who has survived a serious bought of diarrhea or dysentery can appreciate all the efforts involved in the deterrence and/or treatment of it. There are other bacterial enteric pathogens as well; Salmonella, Vibrio cholera, listeria and NMRC’s Enterics Department staff of 27 are dedicated to victory over the unseen intestinal enemies rarely if ever thought until affected by them.
Next in the Explaining Science series a behind the scenes look at COVID-19 lab testing and those that perform the tests.
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 03.26.2021 15:55 |
| Story ID: | 392373 |
| Location: | SILVER SPRING, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 152 |
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This work, Infectious Disease Research: Intestinal Pathogens, by Denise alford, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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