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Pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA): a review.

Gowrisankar Rajam¹, Julie M Anderton, George M Carlone

¹Division of Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.

Critical Reviews in Microbiology

|August 30, 2008

Summary

Pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA) is a key Streptococcus pneumoniae protein involved in bacterial attachment and virulence. Targeting PsaA in vaccines may reduce nasopharyngeal colonization, a critical step in pneumococcal disease development.

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Biochemical and Structural Characterization of the Carbohydrate Transport Substrate-binding-protein SP0092

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Published on: October 2, 2017

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Immunology
Vaccine Development

Background:

Pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA) is a conserved lipoprotein found in all Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.
PsaA functions as both an adhesin, facilitating host cell attachment, and a component of an ABC-type Mn2+ transport system.
Nasopharyngeal colonization by pneumococci induces an immune response targeting PsaA.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the structure, function, and immunogenicity of PsaA.
To evaluate PsaA's potential as a vaccine component against pneumococcal infections.
To explore PsaA's role in reducing nasopharyngeal colonization.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on PsaA.
Analysis of PsaA's role in Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence and attachment.
Consideration of PsaA's immunogenicity and antibody response.
Evaluation of PsaA as a vaccine candidate, including recombinant protein expression and clinical trial data.

Main Results:

PsaA is crucial for pneumococcal attachment and virulence.
Natural infection elicits antibodies against PsaA, indicating immunogenicity.
Recombinant PsaA has been produced and evaluated in early-phase clinical trials.
PsaA holds promise for reducing nasopharyngeal colonization.

Conclusions:

PsaA is a significant virulence factor and a potential target for vaccines.
Vaccines incorporating PsaA could reduce pneumococcal colonization and pathogenesis.
Further research and development of PsaA-based vaccines are warranted.