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PsrP, a protective pneumococcal antigen, is highly prevalent in children with pneumonia and is strongly associated

Carmen Muñoz-Almagro1, Laura Selva, Carlos J Sanchez

  • 1Molecular Microbiology Department, University Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, P° Sant Joan de Déu No. 2, 08950 Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain. cma@hsjdbcn.org

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology : CVI
|September 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Pneumococcal surface protein P (PsrP) is present in over half of invasive pneumococcal disease strains, particularly in older children with pneumonia. Inclusion of PsrP in vaccines may not target antibiotic-resistant strains, offering a promising vaccine component.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Vaccinology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) remains a global health concern.
  • Serotype replacement necessitates novel vaccine targets for next-generation vaccines.
  • Pneumococcal surface protein P (PsrP) is a protective antigen with potential vaccine utility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and clonal variability of the pneumococcal antigen PsrP.
  • To assess PsrP distribution in isolates from children with IPD and healthy carriers.
  • To evaluate PsrP as a potential target for a multivalent protein vaccine.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time PCR was employed to detect the presence of psrP.
  • Pneumococcal isolates were analyzed from children with IPD and healthy nasopharyngeal carriers.
  • Clonotypic analysis and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed.

Main Results:

  • PsrP was detected in 52.4% of 441 tested pneumococcal strains.
  • PsrP prevalence showed a trend in pneumonia isolates compared to colonizing isolates (P=0.067) and was significant compared to bacteremia isolates (P=0.001).
  • PsrP prevalence increased with age, being highest in strains from children over 2 years (P=0.02), and its presence was clonotype-dependent and inversely correlated with antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions:

  • PsrP is prevalent in IPD-causing strains, especially in older children with pneumonia.
  • PsrP's presence is linked to specific invasive clones and not associated with antibiotic resistance.
  • These findings support PsrP's potential as a component in a next-generation pneumococcal protein vaccine.

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