Vaccination against the M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes prevents death after influenza virus: S. pyogenes

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Co-immunoprecipitation of the Mouse Mx1 Protein with the Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein
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Co-immunoprecipitation of the Mouse Mx1 Protein with the Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein

Published on: April 21, 2015

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Joshua M Klonoski1, Heather R Hurtig1, Brian A Juber1

  • 1Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States.

Vaccine
|August 1, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Vaccinating against Streptococcus pyogenes M protein prevents deaths from influenza and bacterial superinfections. This bacterial immunity is crucial for survival, even when influenza virus infection causes illness.

Area of Science:

  • * Infectious disease research
  • * Immunology
  • * Microbiology

Background:

  • * Influenza virus infections cause significant annual morbidity and mortality.
  • * Secondary bacterial infections, particularly with Streptococcus pyogenes, are a major cause of death following influenza.
  • * Previous studies showed influenza vaccination offers incomplete protection against secondary bacterial superinfections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To evaluate the efficacy of a vaccine targeting the M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes.
  • * To determine if immunity to Streptococcus pyogenes alone can protect against influenza virus:S. pyogenes superinfections.
  • * To assess the role of bacterial immunity in mitigating lethal outcomes of viral-bacterial coinfections.

Main Methods:

  • * Development of a murine model for influenza virus:Streptococcus pyogenes superinfection.
  • * Vaccination of mice against the M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes.
  • * Assessment of immune responses, including IgG antibody production and macrophage interaction.
  • * Evaluation of survival rates and clinical signs following superinfection.

Main Results:

  • * Vaccination against M protein induced specific IgG antibodies (IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes).
  • * These antibodies demonstrated interaction with macrophages, suggesting an immune mechanism.
  • * M protein vaccination completely eliminated mortality in the influenza virus:Streptococcus pyogenes superinfection model.
  • * M protein-vaccinated mice still exhibited signs of illness after influenza virus infection.

Conclusions:

  • * Immunity targeting Streptococcus pyogenes M protein provides complete protection against lethal influenza virus:S. pyogenes superinfection.
  • * Antibodies against bacterial components are critical for host survival during viral-bacterial coinfections.
  • * Targeting bacterial immunity is a viable strategy to combat severe outcomes of respiratory viral infections complicated by bacterial pathogens.
Keywords:
BacteriaInfluenzaSuper-infection

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