Rickettsia prowazekii is one of the bacteria that causes epidemic typhus. This is regarded as an infectious disease and highly contagious. This type of disease has the capability of causing mass contagion especially under poor sanitation and overpopulation. Our company is committed to exploring various vaccine and therapy development pathways, using cutting-edge technologies to provide one-stop solutions for global pharmaceutical companies.
Introduction to Epidemic Typhus
Epidemic Typhus can be described as a rickettisal disease that has been effecting humanity throughout history, this particular condition has been linked to the Rickettsia prowazekii. Common Symptoms of this condition include the occurrence of high unlikely temperature, along with a headache, as well as a considerable amount exhaustion, and furthermore a distinctive rash. The disease has been linked to significant risks to life as well as high mortality rates across the globe during wars and periods of natural disasters as well as other economic the societal upheaval. Typhus has been found to be transmitted specifically through human's body lice or the Pediculus human as well as contact with flying squirrels depending on the specific region; for instance, america.
Table 1 Some epidemiological features of typhus group rickettsiae. (Angelakis E., et al., 2016)
| Typhus group rickettsiae |
Disease |
Vector |
Host |
Geographical distribution |
| R. prowazekii |
Epidemic typhus |
Pediculus humanus corporis |
Humans |
Worldwide |
| Sylvatic typhus |
Ticks? |
Not Determined |
Worldwide |
| R. typhi |
Murine typhus |
Fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis, other flea spp.) |
Rodents (rats) |
Worldwide |
Vaccine Development for Epidemic Typhus
Historical Vaccines
There is an extensive history of vaccine development for epidemic typhus with the first attempts resulting in the Weigl and Cox vaccines: while the former deployed infected lice, the latter resorted to egg yolks. Vaccines of that time were of immense importance for the comprehension of the biology of the pathogens as well as for the understanding of the immune system of the host.
Modern Vaccine Strategies
Contemporary approaches to vaccine production addressing epidemic typhus emphasize developing effective formulations that are easy to use even in the field and, importantly, are much safer. So far, available technology focuses on the development of tetanus toxoid, subunit or live attenuated recombinant vaccines and new immunisation routes that could provide more durable immune response.
Therapeutics Development for Epidemic Typhus
Antibiotic Therapies
The first step towards the therapeutics of active epidemic typhus infections is to take the antibiotics, with tetracyclines still being the primary choice. The research towards newer antibiotics keeps those goals in mind to overcome the existing barriers, that are ineffectiveness, increased side effects of the drug and emergence of resistance.
Novel Therapies
New therapeutic modalities including monoclonal antibodies and immunotherapeutic strategies are being researched, which seem rather novel. The goal of these therapeutics is to specifically attack certain parts of the Rickettsia prowazekii life cycle or control the immune system of the host to reduce the symptoms of the disease.
Our Services
It is important to prevent this disease by vaccine and therapies development. Our firm assists with design and development of vaccines and therapies for epidemic typhus in a broad range of other therapies. We pledge ourselves to the promotion of research through:
Preclinical Research
- Pharmacodynamics Study Services
- Pharmacokinetics Study Services
- Drug Safety Evaluation Services
Disease Models
- BALB/c Mouse Models
- C57BL/6 Mouse Models
- Gerbils and Cotton Rat Models
- Guinea Pig Models
- Cynomolgus Monkey Models
Our therapy development services focus on identifying and optimizing drug candidates that target Rickettsia prowazekii. We provide a range of services, including drug discovery, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, and the design of preclinical research protocols. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
Reference
- Angelakis, Emmanouil, Yassina Bechah, and Didier Raoult. "The history of epidemic typhus." Microbiology Spectrum 4.4 (2016): 10-1128.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
