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Glycoconjugate vaccines to prevent group B streptococcal infections
Lawrence C Paoletti1, Dennis L Kasper
1Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. lpaoletti@channing.harvard.edu
Insights
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) conjugate vaccines show promise for preventing GBS infections. Preclinical and clinical trials indicate these vaccines are safe and elicit protective antibodies against GBS serotypes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic pathogen affecting vulnerable populations like neonates, pregnant women, and the elderly.
- Current GBS disease prevention strategies rely on developing effective vaccines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of GBS conjugate vaccines in preclinical and clinical settings.
- To assess the potential of GBS conjugate vaccines in preventing GBS-related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of GBS capsular polysaccharide (CPS) conjugate vaccines against nine serotypes.
- Preclinical immunogenicity and safety testing in mice, rabbits, and baboons.
- Phase I and II clinical trials in healthy adults with GBS types Ia, Ib, II, III, and V CPS vaccines.
Main Results:
- GBS conjugate vaccines were immunogenic in multiple animal models.
- Vaccines prepared with GBS types Ia, Ib, II, III, and V CPS were safe in healthy adults.
- Vaccination elicited CPS-specific antibodies that enhanced GBS killing by leukocytes in vitro.
Conclusions:
- GBS conjugate vaccines are safe and immunogenic.
- These vaccines have the potential to effectively prevent GBS diseases across various at-risk populations.
Abstract:
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic pathogen of humans. At-risk populations include neonates born to colonised mothers, peripartum women, diabetics, and the elderly with underlying illnesses. Vaccines to prevent GBS disease have been developed by coupling purified capsular polysaccharide (CPS) antigen of GBS with an immunogenic protein carrier. Glycoconjugate vaccines against all nine currently identified GBS serotypes have been synthesised and shown to be immunogenic in mice, rabbits and baboons in preclinical trials. Healthy adults have safely received conjugate vaccines prepared with GBS types Ia, Ib, II, III, and V CPSs in Phase I and II clinical trials. These vaccines elicited CPS-specific antibody that opsonised GBS for in vitro killing by human peripheral blood leukocytes in the presence of complement. Results from these preclinical and clinical studies strongly suggest that GBS conjugate vaccines will be effective in preventing diseases caused by GBS.