Progress towards a vaccine against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

A variety of approaches are being investigated in the development of a vaccine against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). These approaches include purified fimbriae vaccines, toxoid vaccines, live attenuated E. coli vaccine strains and ETEC antigens expressed in carrier organisms. Studies of the pathogenesis and immune response to ETEC indicate that development of a vaccine against human ETEC is a realistic goal but considerable work remains before this goal is realized.