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Induction of anti-pneumococcal cell wall polysaccharide antibodies by type 4 pneumococcal polysaccharide-protein
C Peeters1, A M Tenbergen-Meekes, J Poolmann
1Department of Immunology, University Hospital for Children and Youth Het Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis, State University, School of Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
We have prepared polysaccharide-protein conjugates consisting of type 4 pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PS4) coupled to tetanus toxoid. The PS4 preparation used contained 2.5% pneumococcal cell wall polysaccharide (CPs). During the conjugation process, in addition to PS4-protein conjugates, CPs-protein conjugates were also formed. After immunization with PS4-protein conjugates, CPs-protein conjugates that are present as a contaminant induce IgG anti-CPs antibodies in mice. Pneumococcal oligosaccharides, prepared by periodate oxidation of PS4, did not contain detectable amounts of CPs; hence, oligosaccharide-protein conjugates did not induce anti-CPs antibodies.