Developing vaccines against the leading bacterial causes of diarrheal disease

When diarrhea strikes an infant in the developed world, there's a safety net in place—doctors and hospitals ready to treat dehydration or prescribe antibiotics for the most common causes of diarrheal disease.

In poor countries, the picture is entirely different. Treatment can be hard to access, and diarrhea can be deadly. Vaccines to prevent diarrheal diseases are an essential and lifesaving part of diarrhea control strategies.

That's why PATH is developing vaccines against bacteria that cause diarrhea, such as Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). ETEC is the first intestinal disease encountered by many infants, and Shigella is one of the most common causes of hospitalization from diarrhea. Vaccines against Shigella and ETEC could save more than one million kids a year who now die from these infections and may even reduce malnutrition and developmental delays associated with severe diarrhea in children.

To advance the development of safe, effective, and affordable vaccines against Shigella and ETEC, PATH is working with private- and public-sector partners. We are identifying and prioritizing vaccine candidates and moving the most promising ones through rigorous preclinical and clinical studies in an effort to make these vaccines available in the world's poorest countries as quickly as possible. We are already pursuing the development of two ETEC vaccine candidates and one Shigella candidate, while we continue to look for additional vaccine approaches to support. We have also identified a highly promising adjuvant (an ingredient that may enhance the effectiveness of some vaccines) that we plan to test with several of our candidates, and we are working with partners to conduct additional research to support our vaccine development efforts.

Learn more about our partners on Shigella and ETEC vaccines.

Beyond the science, we are working on an advocacy effort to reprioritize diarrheal disease within the broader public health arena. Our comprehensive strategy to fight diarrhea includes support for new and existing vaccines, improved oral rehydration solution, breastfeeding, zinc treatments, and safe drinking water. Winning the fight against childhood diarrhea requires a commitment to an integrated package of treatment and prevention options. Read more about these efforts.

In addition to PATH's work on bacterial causes of diarrheal disease, we are pursuing a strategy to reduce the burden of diarrhea from rotavirus—the most common cause of severe diarrhea in young children. PATH is helping developing countries access and afford the currently licensed vaccines against rotavirus. We are also working to ensure a sufficient supply and competitive pricing of rotavirus vaccines by partnering with emerging manufacturers in India and China to develop two new rotavirus vaccines.

Worldwide, children's health is seriously affected by diarrheal disease every day. By advancing vaccines against the leading bacterial causes of this illness, PATH is improving children's odds of winning in the fight against diarrheal disease.

Photo: Aurelio Ayala III.