Salmonella are bacteria that cause acute distress to the gastrointestinal system and sometimes cause severe diseases like typhoid. Usually contracted through the consumption of contaminated foods, there are an increasing number of salmonella infections caused by contact with pet reptiles. While the bacteria occurs naturally in meats such as chicken and pork, it can be transferred to other types of food, including fruits and vegetables, by a kitchen counter or other contaminated surface.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 out of 1,000 people in the United States contract salmonella infections annually, and that there are 2 - 4 million cases of salmonella poisoning every year. Two-thirds of all salmonella cases occur in individuals under the age of 20, and approximately 1,000 people die every year in the U.S. from salmonella poisoning.

These grim statistics provide the backdrop for Douglas Heithoff's groundbreaking research. The new vaccine would be administered to poultry and not to humans, but would have the effect of preventing infection by multiple strains of salmonella in people who consume poultry products. Current salmonella vaccines for chickens confer long-lasting protection against only one strain, and thus do not address the need for protection against many of the over 2,500 existing, disease-causing salmonella strains. A similar vaccine for humans might also have utility if different salmonella strains were ever part of a biological terrorist attack.

"It is quite satisfying to know that my Ph.D. research will have a positive impact on human health", says Heithoff, "but it could not have happened without the concerted efforts of a dedicated team of researchers here at UCSB."

Dr. Heithoff received his Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from UCSB in Spring 1999. He was honored with the prestigious Lancaster Award for the year's best dissertation in the field of Biological Sciences. His dissertation was entitled Host-Specific Induction of Bacterial Virulence Genes and focused on bacterial genetics, pioneering an innovative approach to combating diseases caused by bacteria.

The UCSB research team working on the salmonella vaccine consists of Dr. Heithoff, Professor David Low, Associate Professor Michael Mahan, and Professor Emeritus Robert Sinsheimer.