Existing vaccine linked with gonorrhoea incidence

摘要

Gonorrhoea is steadily becoming a global public health problem due to the combined effects of increasing antibiotic resistant strains and as-yet unsuccessful vaccine development. The disease is associated with significant morbidity and the development of effective management is well desired. Surveillance data has picked up a potential link between an existing vaccine and incidence of gonorrhoea. A retrospective case-control study conducted using individuals aged 15-30 years in New Zealand showed that exposure to three doses of the outer membrane vesicle meningococcal B vaccine (MeNZB) was associated with a reduced rate of gonorrhoea diagnosis. This is the first time a vaccination has been shown to impart any protection against the infection. Whilst producing differing disease manifestations, there is up to a 90% genetic homology between Neisseria gonorrhoea and Neisseria meningitidis, for which the vaccine was used against, and each share several equivalent virulence factors. This may provide biological backup for any link between vaccine exposure and decreased incidence of gonorrhoea. These findings encourage further research into the pathogenic factors that might be impacted by thevaccine.