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Co-colonization by Haemophilus influenzae with Streptococcus pneumoniae enhances pneumococcal-specific antibody

Qingfu Xu1, Michael E Pichichero1

  • 1Center for Infectious Disease and Immunology, Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621, USA.

Vaccine
|December 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Co-colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) with Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) or Moraxella catarrhalis (Mcat) boosts antibody responses to Spn vaccines. Interactions among these common respiratory bacteria impact immune responses to pathogen-specific antigens.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), and Moraxella catarrhalis (Mcat) are common respiratory pathogens and nasopharyngeal (NP) commensals.
  • The impact of interactions between these bacteria during NP co-colonization on host immune responses remains largely unevaluated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess how co-colonization with Hi or Mcat influences systemic antibody responses to Spn vaccine candidate antigens.
  • To evaluate how co-colonization with Spn and Mcat affects antibody responses to Hi vaccine candidate antigens.

Main Methods:

  • Serum samples were collected from children at multiple ages (6-24 months) during colonization with Spn, Hi, Mcat, or combinations.
  • Quantitative ELISA measured serum IgA and IgG against specific Spn and Hi antigens, as well as whole cells of non-typeable strains.

Main Results:

  • NP colonization with Spn increased serum IgA/IgG titers against Spn antigens (PhtD, PcpA, PlyD) and whole cells.
  • Co-colonization with Hi or Mcat alongside Spn further elevated pneumococcal-specific antibody levels.
  • Hi colonization increased serum IgA/IgG titers against Hi antigens (P6, Protein D, OMP26) and whole cells, but co-colonization with Spn or Mcat did not further enhance these responses.

Conclusions:

  • Co-colonization of Hi or Mcat with Spn enhances antibody responses to Spn vaccine candidates and whole cells.
  • Bacterial co-colonization appears to modulate pathogen-specific adaptive immune responses in a variable manner.
Abstract

Keywords:
Antibody responseHaemophilus influenzaeMoraxella catarrhalisPolymicrobial co-colonizationStreptococcus pneumoniae

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