In every community, in every corner of the world, Group A streptococci cause pain and suffering due to infections ranging from simple sore throat to the streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. “Vaccine tests a step against strep” by Jeremy Manier (Page 1, March 7) provided an insightful look into the world of streptococci and efforts to try to prevent such infections. Though the article stated that I feared that all vaccine efforts may be doomed, nothing could be further from the truth.
I share great enthusiasm with others in the field for the possibility of developing a vaccine. In fact I have advocated additional funds for strep research in testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives and as an invited consultant to the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. The point that I wanted to make in the article was that the Group A streptococcus uses many different “armaments” to cause disease, and some of these vaccine strategies may fail to prevent all forms of streptococcal infections. Nonetheless, with the support of the NIH, many bright young minds focusing in this area and the staggering capability of biotechnology, I am confident that the Group A streptococcus is about to meet its match.
