Association of pneumococcal protein antigen serology with age and antigenic profile of colonizing isolates

Taj Azarian, Lindsay R. Grant, Maria Georgieva, Laura L. Hammitt, Raymond Reid, Stephen D. Bentley, David Goldblatt, Mathuran Santosham, Robert Weatherholtz, Paula Burbidge, Novalene Goklish, Claudette M. Thompson, William P. Hanage, Kate L. O'Brien, Marc Lipsitch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)713-722
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume215
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Antibody
  • Immunology
  • Pilus
  • Pneumococci
  • Protein antigens
  • PspA
  • PspC
  • Sera
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Vaccine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

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