Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found that vaccinating pregnant mice protected their pups from lethal bacterial bloodstream infections.
Key facts
- •Klebsiella pneumoniae is a leading global cause of infant mortality and is increasingly resistant to standard antibiotics.
- •The vaccine used in the study targets the K1 and K2 strains of the bacterium.
- •Survival rates for pups from vaccinated mothers exceeded 80% when exposed to lethal bacterial doses.
- •Researchers found high levels of vaccine-specific antibodies in both the breast milk of vaccinated mice and the blood of their offspring.
- •The study was published in the journal Science Advances on Oct. 14, 2026.
A study published in Science Advances on Oct. 14 indicates that maternal immunization can shield newborns from Klebsiella pneumoniae, a bacterium that causes severe, often drug-resistant infections. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis demonstrated that vaccinating pregnant mice provided their offspring with significant protection against lethal doses of the bacteria. This approach aims to address a critical vulnerability in infants who have not yet developed their own immune defenses.
By the numbers
Study Methodology and Results
The research team, led by David A. Rosen, modeled neonatal sepsis using mice to test a vaccine developed by the St. Louis-based startup Omniose. Female mice were immunized at mating and during pregnancy with a vaccine targeting K1 and K2 strains of the bacteria. When exposed to lethal doses of these strains two weeks after birth, over 80% of pups from vaccinated mothers survived, compared to 0% survival for K1 and less than 35% for K2 in the unvaccinated control group.
Mechanism of Protection
Analysis revealed that vaccinated mothers transferred high concentrations of vaccine-specific antibodies to their offspring through breast milk. These antibodies remained present in the young mice for up to six weeks, providing durable protection against infection. The researchers are currently developing updated vaccines intended to target a broader range of K. pneumoniae strains found globally, with the goal of eventually moving toward human clinical trials.
Timeline
- Oct. 14The study findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
- Two weeks after birthYoung mice were exposed to lethal doses of K1 or K2 bacteria.
- Up to six weeks of lifeResearchers monitored antibody levels in the young mice.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Medical Xpress.
