Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) is a Gram-negative, intracellular pathogen responsible for typhoid fever, a significant public health concern globally. The bacterium spreads through the fecal-oral route, causing severe morbidities and mortalities, particularly in developing countries . The emergence of multi-drug resistant and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains has further complicated the treatment of S. Typhi infections .
Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of S. Typhi play crucial roles in the bacterium’s interaction with its environment and host. These proteins are integral to the bacterial outer membrane, contributing to its structural integrity, nutrient transport, and virulence . OMPs are also potent immunogens, eliciting strong immune responses in the host .
The 52kDa recombinant outer membrane protein of S. Typhi is a specific OMP that has been identified as a potential candidate for vaccine development. This protein is part of the bacterium’s outer membrane and is involved in various functions, including adhesion to host cells and evasion of the host immune system .
The 52kDa recombinant outer membrane protein has shown promise in vaccine development due to its ability to elicit strong immune responses. Intranasal immunization with a subunit vaccine containing this protein has been shown to induce robust systemic and intestinal mucosal immunity in animal models . This approach has the potential to provide long-term protection against S. Typhi infections, addressing the limitations of current typhoid vaccines .