Cholera, a severe diarrheal illness caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, is one such formidable challenge that our team of seasoned experts has taken on with unwavering commitment. At our company, we are committed to the relentless pursuit of innovative solutions for vaccine and therapeutic development.
Introduction to Cholera
Cholera is a highly contagious disease that can spread rapidly through contaminated water and food sources, particularly in regions with poor sanitation and limited access to clean drinking water. The classic symptom of cholera is profuse, watery diarrhea that can lead to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications if left untreated.
The V. cholerae bacterium can thrive in various aquatic environments, including shellfish and plankton, further complicating the transmission dynamics. Individuals with certain risk factors, such as decreased gastric acidity, young age, and compromised immunity, are more susceptible to developing severe cholera infections.
Fig. 1 The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree of 21 V. cholerae strains based on mutational differences after excluding recombination events. (Hu D., et al., 2016)
Vaccine Development for Cholera
The development of cholera vaccines is a critical strategy in controlling the disease. Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to recognize and combat the cholera bacterium, offering protection against future infections. Several types of cholera vaccines have been developed, including:
- Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCVs): These vaccines mimic natural infection and provide immunity through the intestinal mucosa. They are considered safe and effective, with some providing protection for up to five years.
- Parenteral Cholera Vaccines: Administered via injection, these vaccines have been less favored due to their limited duration of protection and inability to prevent transmission.
- Live Attenuated Oral Cholera Vaccines: These vaccines use a weakened form of the cholera bacterium to stimulate an immune response. They are easy to administer but carry a risk of reverting to a virulent form.
- Killed Whole-Cell Vaccines: These vaccines use inactivated forms of the cholera bacterium and have been shown to be safe and immunogenic.
Table 1 Current licensed/under development oral killed cholera vaccine. (Shaikh H., et al., 2020)
| Vaccine |
Manufacturer |
Developer |
Type |
WHO Prequalification |
| Dukoral® |
Valneva, France |
SBL Vaccin (Solna; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) |
Monovalent, Killed whole-cell vaccine O1 serogroup and recombinant cholera toxin B subunit. |
25-Oct-01 |
| Shanchol™ |
Shantha Biotechnics, (Hyderabad, India) Sanofi Company |
IVI |
Bivalent, killed whole-cell (O1 and O139 serogroups) |
29-Sep-11 |
| Euvichol® |
Eubiologics, Seoul, Republic of Korea |
IVI, Eubiologics |
Bivalent, killed whole-cell (O1 and O139 serogroups) |
23 Dec 2015/2017 |
| mORC-Vax™ |
Vabiotech, Hanoi, Vietnam |
IVI, Vabiotech |
Bivalent, killed whole-cell (O1 and O139 serogroups) |
No |
| OraVacs |
Shanghai United Cell Biotechnology, China |
Shanghai United Cell Biotechnology, China |
Inactivated whole-cell with recombinant cholera toxin B subunit |
No |
| Cholvax |
Incepta Vaccine Bangladesh |
IVI, icddr,b |
Bivalent, killed whole-cell (O1 and O139 serogroups) |
– |
| HillChol™ |
Incepta Vaccine Bangladesh |
MSD Wellcome Trust Hilleman |
Lab., University of Gothenburg Sweden |
Single strain whole-cell of recombinant |
Hikojima strain-MS1568 |
– |
Therapeutics Development for Cholera
Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)
The primary therapeutic for cholera, ORT replaces lost fluids and electrolytes through the consumption of slightly sweet and salty solutions.
In cases of severe dehydration, intravenous fluids such as Ringer's lactate may be administered.
Short courses of antibiotics can reduce the volume of diarrhea and the duration of shedding the bacterium. Commonly used antibiotics include doxycycline, azithromycin, and tetracycline.
In children, zinc supplementation in conjunction with rehydration therapy has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of diarrhea.
Our Services
Our company is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to combat cholera. We offer a comprehensive suite of services that includes vaccine development, therapy innovation, and preclinical research.
- Fasted Guinea Pig Models
- Ussing Chamber Models
- Infant Rabbit Models
- Ligated Rabbit Ileal Loop Models
- Guinea Pig Models
- Canine Models
- Rat Loop Models
- Nonhuman Primates Models
Furthermore, our cholera preclinical research services encompass a wide range of in vitro and in vivo studies, including pathogenesis investigations, candidate screening, and efficacy evaluations. If our services have piqued your interest, we warmly welcome you to reach out to us for further information and to obtain a detailed quotation for the services you require.
References
- Hu Dalong, et al. "Origins of the current seventh cholera pandemic." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113.48 (2016): E7730-E7739.
- Shaikh Hanif, et al. "Current and future cholera vaccines." Vaccine 38 (2020): A118-A126.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
