Given the global impact of otitis media and COPD, an effective vaccine to prevent M. catarrhalis infection would have a huge impact on the quality of life in both patient populations by preventing disease, thus reducing morbidity and health care costs.
The igaB gene, which encodes a newly identified IgA protease, is more likely to be present in the genome of COPD strains of H. influenzae than in otitis media strains.