Diphtheria, a once formidable disease, remains under surveillance despite current vaccination. The Pasteur Institute has brought to light a new bacteria, Corynebacterium ramonii, capable of triggering this disease. Long confused with another, its discovery allows a better understanding of the pathology.
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There diphtheriadiphtheria is a disease that, in the past, killed many people. It is a respiratory attack which causes death by asphyxiation. There is a vaccinevaccine effective, mandatory for children and health professionals. Today, even if most people are vaccinated, scientists remain vigilant and continue to work on the subject. A new bacteria capable of causing diphtheria has been discovered by the Pasteur Institute. She is called Corynebacterium ramonii. The work was published in Research in Microbiology.
A not-so-new bacteria
This new bacteria is actually not so “new”! It already existed, but it is only now that we are able to differentiate it from the others. Before that, it was confused with another bacteria called C. ulcerans. The complex ofspeciesspecies Corynebacterium diphtheriae includes seven bacterial species. By phenotypically and genotypically characterizing lines of C. Ulcerans, the authors were able to distinguish two completely distinct lineages. The new lineage is transmitted from man to man.
This discovery is essential for both the management and prevention of diphtheria. Indeed, to develop treatments and vaccines, we must have a thorough understanding of the bacteria capable of triggering the disease. Besides, on the subject of vaccines, good news! The vaccine that most of us have already received also protects against this bacteria.
