Every year rotavirus causes half a million diarrhea-related deaths amongst children in developing countries. Existing vaccines provide poor protection. The reason could be a widespread genetic resistance amongst children, according to virologists at Linköping University.
Acute diarrheal illnesses cause nearly one-fifth of all child deaths in developing countries. The most common cause is rotavirus. Improved sanitation and hygiene have had a limited effect on the spread of the illness. Today, vaccination is considered the most important method for reducing mortality. Unfortunately, several studies have shown that the two available living vaccines, Rotarix and RotaTeq, which are recommended by bodies including the World Health Organization, are not sufficiently effective in developing countries. In many African countries, protection has been as low as 20 percent to 50 percent.
Johan NordgrenThe current study, to be published in the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases by Johan Nordgren from professor Lennart Svensson’s research group, shows that up to 4 of 10 children in Burkina Faso are genetically resistant to the virus strains found in the vaccines.
The researchers found that children who can not express a particular sugar molecule in the small intestine, called the Lewis molecule, do not become infected by the rotavirus types found in existing vaccines. This Lewis molecule is probably needed as a receptor for the rotavirus to be able to enter and infect the host cell in the intestine. This means that these children do not get the desired immunological protection from the vaccine.
The occurrence of these Lewis-negative children is small in Europe and North America, but up to ten times higher in many African countries.
These results have gained significant international attention, and can greatly impact the evaluation of the rotavirus vaccines now being introduced in several developing countries. The results could lead to a review of the vaccine composition, and the development of vaccines better suited to the populations most affected by rotavirus.
Reference: Nordcgren J, et al. Both Lewis and secretor status mediate susceptibility to rotavirus infections in a rotavirus genotype dependent manner. Clin Infect Dis August 2014.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.