The Mohr Lab is launching a new project, funded by the Gates Foundation, to build a rhesus macaque model of neonatal sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Klebsiella is a major cause of newborn infection and death, and drug-resistant strains are a growing concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries. A reliable animal model is a necessary first step toward understanding how these infections start and how to prevent them.
The project will also test whether vaccinating pregnant macaques can protect their infants. If it works, maternal vaccination could be one of the few tools that reaches newborns before they are exposed. The work is based at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center and builds on collaborations with researchers studying Klebsiella internationally.