Serocorrelates of protection against infant group B streptococcus disease

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major global cause of infant mortality and morbidity.
• Despite decades of research, no GBS vaccine is currently licensed.
• Early licensure of GBS vaccines may rely on a defined serocorrelate of protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize scientific evidence to define an immune correlate for GBS disease risk reduction.
• To identify lessons from existing vaccine development for GBS vaccine advancement.
• To outline considerations for future seroepidemiological studies to establish a serocorrelate of risk reduction.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on GBS natural infection studies.
• Summarization of studies investigating GBS anticapsular and anti-protein antibodies.
• Analysis of studies correlating antibody function with disease risk reduction.

Main Results:

• Evidence synthesis to define a potential immune correlate for GBS disease risk reduction.
• Identification of strategies from other vaccine programs, such as aggregating serocorrelates and understanding natural vs. vaccine-induced immunity.
• Highlighting the utility of in-vitro immunoassay data extrapolation.

Conclusions:

• Establishing a serocorrelate of protection is key to facilitating early licensure of GBS vaccines.
• Leveraging knowledge from existing vaccine development can accelerate GBS vaccine progress.
• Careful consideration of antibody assessment in future studies is essential for defining a robust serocorrelate of risk reduction.