Journal
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Volume 209, Issue 7, Pages 1116-1125Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit502
Keywords
Streptococcus pneumoniae; meningitis; pneumonia; vaccine; meningococcus
Categories
Funding
- National Institutes of Health [R01 AI27913]
- American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities
- PATH
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Background. Pneumococcus, meningococcus, and Haemophilus influenzae cause a similar spectrum of infections in the ear, lung, blood, and brain. They share cross-reactive antigens that bind to the laminin receptor of the blood-brain barrier as a molecular basis for neurotropism, and this step in pathogenesis was addressed in vaccine design. Methods. Biologically active peptides derived from choline-binding protein A (CbpA) of pneumococcus were identified and then genetically fused to L460D pneumolysoid. The fusion construct was tested for vaccine efficacy in mouse models of nasopharyngeal carriage, otitis media, pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. Results. The CbpA peptide-L460D pneumolysoid fusion protein was more broadly immunogenic than pneumolysoid alone, and antibodies were active in vitro against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and H. influenzae. Passive and active immunization protected mice from pneumococcal carriage, otitis media, pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, and meningococcal sepsis. Conclusions. The CbpA peptide-L460D pneumolysoid fusion protein was broadly protective against pneumococcal infection, with the potential for additional protection against other meningeal pathogens.
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