University of Maryland Researchers Advance Food Poisoning...

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) have announced a significant breakthrough in the fight against foodborne illnesses, successfully completing a Phase 1 clinical trial for a novel vaccine. The Trivalent Salmonella Conjugate Vaccine (TSCV) targets not only typhoid fever but also invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella infections, a leading cause of food poisoning globally. The promising results of this initial human trial were published in Nature Medicine on October 8, 2025, as reported by Gizmodo on October 9, 2025.

The investigational vaccine, developed in collaboration with Bharat Biotech International Ltd., represents a dual-pronged approach to combating dangerous bacterial infections. It is designed to protect against Salmonella Typhi, responsible for typhoid fever, and two prevalent serotypes of Salmonella enterica that commonly cause foodborne illness. This development builds upon Bharat Biotech's WHO-prequalified Typbar TCV platform, leveraging existing expertise in vaccine technology.

The successful Phase 1 trial, conducted in the United States, demonstrated that the TSCV vaccine was both safe and well-tolerated among healthy adult participants. Crucially, all vaccinated individuals developed strong immune responses against the targeted Salmonella strains, indicating its potential efficacy. This early success paves the way for further research and development, with researchers planning to advance to subsequent trial phases.

This vaccine comes at a critical time, as Salmonella infections continue to pose a substantial public health challenge worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Salmonella causes 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. This makes it the leading cause of hospitalizations and fatalities from food poisoning. Globally, the burden is even more staggering, with millions of cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths each year.

Global and National Burden of Salmonella: Salmonella infections are a pervasive global health issue, with an estimated 94 million human infections and 155,000 deaths annually from non-typhoidal Salmonella worldwide. Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi, adds another 11 to 21 million cases and 135,000 to 230,000 deaths each year.
Global and National Burden of Salmonella: In the U.S., Salmonella is responsible for approximately 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths annually, frequently linked to contaminated poultry, eggs, and produce.
Vaccine Design and Mechanism: The Trivalent Salmonella Conjugate Vaccine (TSCV) is engineered using sugar molecules derived from Salmonella Typhi, which causes typhoid fever, and from two common serotypes of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica. These sugar molecules are then linked to proteins, a method designed to enhance the body's immune recognition and response.
Vaccine Design and Mechanism: This innovative approach aims to provide broad protection against multiple forms of Salmonella.
Promising Phase 1 Trial Results: The Phase 1 clinical trial involved 22 healthy adults in the U.S. who received either a low or high dose of TSCV, or a placebo. The vaccine was found to be safe and well-tolerated, with participants reporting only mild discomfort at the injection site.
Promising Phase 1 Trial Results: Significantly, all vaccinated individuals developed strong immune responses to the three targeted Salmonella strains, and the vaccine also activated a robust response involving white blood cells, which are crucial for clearing infections.
Key Stakeholders and Public Health Impact: The University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) led this research, with lead investigator Dr. Wilbur Chen highlighting the vaccine's potential to protect children in regions where both typhoid and Salmonella are endemic and deadly.
Key Stakeholders and Public Health Impact: Dean Mark T. Gladwin emphasized that a single vaccine offering protection against both could be a "game-changer" for global pediatric health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where these diseases disproportionately affect children.
Significant Economic Toll: Beyond the human cost, Salmonella infections impose a substantial economic burden. In the United States, the economic impact of foodborne Salmonella alone is estimated to exceed $4 billion annually.
Significant Economic Toll: This cost encompasses medical expenses, lost wages, product recalls, and the broader impact on the food industry, including potential plant shutdowns and loss of consumer confidence.
Vulnerable Populations and Transmission: Certain demographics face a higher risk of severe illness from Salmonella, including children under five, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. The bacteria are commonly transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food and water, with poultry, eggs, and fresh produce frequently implicated in outbreaks.
Future Development and Next Steps: Following the successful Phase 1 trial, researchers are now planning to advance to further clinical trials. A crucial next step involves evaluating the vaccine in young children, who are among the most vulnerable populations to both typhoid and non-typhoidal Salmonella infections.
Future Development and Next Steps: These subsequent trials will be essential to confirm the vaccine's efficacy and safety on a larger scale.
Broader Context of Food Safety Innovations: This vaccine development is part of a broader global effort to enhance food safety and combat bacterial pathogens. Other research, such as a concept from ETH Zurich and the University of Oxford published in April 2025, explores combining vaccination with targeted colonization of the intestine by harmless bacteria to displace pathogens, offering alternative strategies in the fight against antibiotic resistance and foodborne illnesses.