Key result
Zinc deficiency worsens infection severity in mice, while PspA immunization reduces severe disease risk.
Why the study?
Zinc deficiency is associated with increased risk of acute respiratory infections and may impair immune response to pneumococcal vaccination, but the effects on infection severity and zinc status are unclear.
Population
Mice on different zinc diets
Comparison
Zinc-deficient diet vs zinc-adequate diet with or without PspA immunization
Design
Animal experiment with immunization and bacterial challenge
Follow-up
5 weeks diet plus immunization and infection challenge period
Authors
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Caution against zinc supplementation in humans; leaves open translation of murine PspA-zinc interactions to clinical vaccination strategies.
Strand et al. (2003) studied Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Zinc-deficient diet and Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) immunization vs. Control diet / no immunization was evaluated on Immune response to PspA, pneumococcal colonization, severity of infection, risk of death, and zinc status. Zinc deficiency in mice reduced immune responses to PspA and increased infection severity, while PspA immunization reduced severe disease risk and bone zinc depletion.
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