Abstract
Background. Several Streptococcus pneumoniae proteins play a role in pathogenesis and are being investigated as vaccine targets. It is largely unknown whether naturally acquired antibodies reduce the risk of colonization with strains expressing a particular antigenic variant. Methods. Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers to 28 pneumococcal protein antigens were measured among 242 individuals aged <6 months-78 years in Native American communities between 2007 and 2009. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected ≥ 30 days after serum collection, and the antigen variant in each pneumococcal isolate was determined using genomic data. We assessed the association between preexisting variant-specific antibody titers and subsequent carriage of pneumococcus expressing a particular antigen variant. Results. Antibody titers often increased across pediatric groups before decreasing among adults. Individuals with low titers against group 3 pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC) variants were more likely to be colonized with pneumococci expressing those variants. For other antigens, variant-specific IgG titers do not predict colonization. Conclusion. We observed an inverse association between variant-specific antibody concentration and homologous pneumococcal colonization for only 1 protein. Further assessment of antibody repertoires may elucidate the nature of antipneumococcal antibody-mediated mucosal immunity while informing vaccine development.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 713-722 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 215 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- Antibody
- Immunology
- Pilus
- Pneumococci
- Protein antigens
- PspA
- PspC
- Sera
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Vaccine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Infectious Diseases