Team led by BHU VC develops world’s1st vaccine against streptococcal infection

VARANASI: In a major scientific breakthrough, a team of researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and abroad, in collaboration with Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice-chancellor Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar, claimed to have developed the world’s first vaccine against streptococcal infection, which is affecting health of millions and causing over five lakh deaths worldwide annually.
Talking to TOI on Thursday, Prof Bhatnagar disclosed, “We have developed a vaccine against streptococcal infection which gives protection from 70% to 90% in mouse model.This disease is prevalent in all over the world. We have tested this vaccine against many serotypes. We have filed for the patent and looking for a company to do preclinical studies and human clinical trials to take it to the market. So far, there is no other vaccine available in the whole world against it.”

Prof Bhatnagar added, “Three years ago, when I was at JNU, I had initiated this project in collaboration with my colleague Prof Atul Kumar Johari along with some research scholars, who are now working with different institutions in the US.”