Untreated scrub typhus can progress to fatality in 6% of cases, this statistic highlights the critical importance of early diagnosis and effective therapeutics. Our company strives to contribute to scrub typhus vaccine and therapy provision by services that cover every comprehensive phase of development cycle.
Overview of Scrub Typhus
Scrub typhus is a disease caused by a bacterium known as Orientia tsutsugamushi which is an obligate intracellular infection. The bacterium attaches itself to Trombidious mite larvae infected by humans and transmits the disease to humans. This disease is highly prevalent in a number of countries situated in the Asia-Pacific region including China, India, Sri Lanka, and South Asia. The symptoms of this disease include moderate to severe Multi- Organ malfunction which can affect the lung tissues, as well as the brain membranes and blood and soft-tissues of the body.
Fig.1 Antibiotic therapeutics for scrub typhus. (Lu D., et al., 2022)
Vaccine Development for Scrub Typhus
Due to the unseen protective immune mechanism and the vast varieties of Orientia tsutsugamushi strains, the development of a scrub typhus vaccine has been quite the challenge over the years. The development of the vaccine has taken a scientific approach and has holistic goals that include:
Identification of Protective Antigens
In particular, much effort has been made to target the p56 which is postulated to be important in host cell invasion and it has also been targeted because it is an immunodominant region of mass 56 kDa.
Apploying genomic information in the detection of autotransporters such as ScaA which has been reliably effective in disrupting the related strains.
Multiplex Subunit Vaccines
A multiplex vaccine incorporating different types of antigens has been suggested in a bid to improve on a specific only immunity characteristic and enrich the protection given.
Therapeutics Development for Scrub Typhus
The therapeutics of choice for scrub typhus is antiobiotics. And some of them are:
- Doxycycline: It is well known for its effectiveness however is blamed for adverse events affecting the gastrointestinal system.
- Azithromycin: A macrolide antibiotic exhibiting a great safety profile and less adverse events making it a good drugs for certain populations.
- Rifampicin: It has good cure rates but use should be restricted in areas where tuberculosis is endemic.
If you'd like to discover other therapeutic options we'd like to urge you to go ahead and follow the links below.
Our Services
The landscape of scrub typhus vaccine and therapy development is evolving, driven by scientific innovation and a commitment to public health. The array of services provided by our company embodies a holistic approach to tackling this significant infectious disease, ensuring that effective preventive and therapeutic options are developed to combat scrub typhus effectively.
- Murine Models: intradermal and intravenous inoculation with different doses of O. tsutsugamushi Gilliam strain
- Humanized DRAGA Mouse Models: by footpad inoculation with O. tsutsugamushi to mimic natural infection via chigger bites.
We offer a distinct service which involves the development of scrub typhus vaccines and therapies. Our services also include state of the art scientific research practices. If you'd like to avail services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Lu, Dafeng, et al. "Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of antibiotics on scrub typhus: a systematic review and network meta-analysis." Frontiers in Public Health 10 (2022): 883945.
- Walker, David H., and Nicole L. Mendell. "A scrub typhus vaccine presents a challenging unmet need." npj Vaccines 8.1 (2023): 11.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
