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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
Published on: November 16, 2016
Association between low concentrations of antibodies to protein alpha and Rib and invasive neonatal group B
C Larsson1, M Lindroth, P Nordin
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. charlotte.u.larsson@vgregion.se
Insights
Maternal antibodies transferred across the placenta to group B streptococci (GBS) proteins alpha and Rib appear to protect neonates from GBS infection. Low antibody levels in newborns were linked to invasive GBS disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neonatal Health
- Microbiology
Background:
- Group B streptococci (GBS) cause severe neonatal infections.
- GBS surface proteins alpha and Rib are potential vaccine candidates.
- Maternal antibodies may protect newborns from GBS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if maternal antibodies to GBS proteins protect neonates.
- Investigate the role of transplacental antibody transfer in GBS infection prevention.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study of 30 infected neonates and 60 controls.
- Measured IgG antibody concentrations in neonatal and maternal sera.
- Analyzed antibodies against GBS proteins alpha and Rib.
Main Results:
- Transplacental transfer of antibodies to alpha and Rib confirmed.
- Low neonatal antibody concentrations associated with invasive GBS infection.
- Significant odds ratios (0.0007 for alpha, 0.002 for Rib) for protection.
Conclusions:
- Antibodies to GBS surface proteins alpha and Rib contribute to neonatal protection.
- Findings support the development of GBS vaccines targeting these proteins.
Background:
Infection with group B streptococci (GBS) is a serious neonatal disease. The GBS cell surface proteins alpha and Rib elicit protective immunity in animal models and have been suggested as potential antigens in a vaccine against human GBS disease.
Aims:
To test the hypothesis that transplacentally transferred maternal antibodies to GBS proteins contribute to the protection of the neonate from GBS infection.
Methods:
Thirty neonates with invasive infection were included in a case-control study. IgG antibody concentrations were measured in sera from these neonates, their mothers, and from 60 non-infected controls, neonates as well as mothers.
Results:
A clear association was found between concentrations of antibody to proteins alpha and Rib in neonatal and maternal sera, indicating that transplacental transfer had occurred. Moreover, low concentrations of antibodies to alpha and Rib in neonatal sera were associated with invasive GBS infection caused by strains expressing the Rib protein. The odds ratio was 0.0007 (95% confidence interval 0.000 to 0.54) for antibodies to alpha and 0.002 (95% confidence interval 0.000 to 0.57) for antibodies to Rib.
Conclusion:
These findings support the notion that antibodies to GBS surface proteins contribute to the protection against neonatal infection.
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