People who carry a particular type of gene have a natural resistance against typhoid fever, Australian-led research has found, which could lead to a more effective vaccine against the disease.

Lead researcher Dr Sarah Dunstan, of the University of Melbourne, says the study screened the human genome for genes linked to the susceptibility to or resistance from typhoid.

It was found that carrying a particular form of the HLA-DRB1 gene provides natural resistance against typhoid fever.

The ultimate cure for typhoid is eliminating the conditions that allow it to thrive - unclean water and poor sanitation - but Dr Dunstan says this is a long way from reality and her team's research could help people now.

It is particularly urgent because typhoid bacteria are increasingly more resistant to antibiotic treatment, and the current vaccine is only moderately effective.

"By doing this research we can try to tackle this problem right now by trying to understand the disease process more," she said.

"Hopefully that will enable us to create more effective vaccines so we can try to help people who are suffering this disease now."

The research collaboration included the Nossal Institute of Global Health at the University of Melbourne, Genome Institute of Singapore and Oxford University Clinical Research Units in Vietnam and Nepal.

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Aust research could help cure typhoid

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