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Protection against systemic fatal pneumococcal infection by maternal intranasal immunization with pneumococcal

Toshiki Katsurahara1, Muneki Hotomi, Kazuma Yamauchi

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy : Official Journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy
|December 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Maternal intranasal immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) protects infants from fatal Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. PspA immunization in mothers boosts antibody levels in offspring, significantly extending their survival time.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae causes significant childhood infectious diseases.
  • Infant mortality remains a concern due to bacterial infections.
  • Pneumococcal infections pose a threat to young children globally.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the protective efficacy of maternal intranasal immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) against fatal pneumococcal infections in infants.
  • To investigate the transfer of anti-PspA antibodies from immunized mothers to their offspring.
  • To evaluate the impact of maternal PspA immunization on infant survival rates following pneumococcal challenge.

Main Methods:

  • Female BALB/c mice were intranasally immunized with PspA, with or without cholera toxin B (CTB).
  • Immunized mice were mated, and their offspring were challenged with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 4 (TIGR4 strain).
  • Offspring survival and antibody levels (anti-PspA IgG) in mothers and offspring were monitored.

Main Results:

  • Maternal intranasal PspA immunization successfully induced anti-PspA IgG antibodies in mothers' sera and breast milk.
  • Offspring from immunized mothers exhibited similar levels of anti-PspA IgG antibodies at birth.
  • Offspring of PspA-immunized mothers showed significantly extended survival times after lethal pneumococcal infection compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal intranasal immunization with PspA provides passive immunity to offspring against fatal pneumococcal infections.
  • This immunization strategy offers a promising approach to protect infants from early-life pneumococcal disease.
  • Intranasal PspA immunization represents a potential novel vaccination method for preventing infant pneumococcal infections.

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