Maternal immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A provides the immune memories of offspring against
Masamitsu Kono1, Takuro Iyo1,2, Daichi Murakami1,2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Insights
Maternal immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) in mice induced protective immunity in offspring against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. This strategy offers a promising new approach for infant protection against pneumococcal disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a leading cause of infectious infant mortality globally.
- Current vaccines have limitations, including antibiotic resistance and inability to vaccinate infants under one year old.
- Maternal immunization is a potential strategy to confer passive immunity to infants, but its mechanisms require further understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of maternal immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) in conferring immunity to offspring against S. pneumoniae.
- To evaluate the development of anti-PspA specific antibodies and protective immune memory in infants born to immunized mothers.
Main Methods:
- Female mice were intranasally immunized with recombinant PspA.
- Immunized females were mated, and their offspring were assessed for immune responses.
- Offspring were subcutaneously stimulated with PspA, and antibody levels and protective efficacy against S. pneumoniae infection were measured.
Main Results:
- Offspring from PspA-immunized mothers exhibited increased anti-PspA antibody-producing cells in the spleen compared to controls.
- Offspring demonstrated significantly higher levels of anti-PspA IgG after PspA stimulation.
- The induced specific antibodies conferred protective efficacy against systemic S. pneumoniae infection in the offspring.
Conclusions:
- Maternal immunization with PspA can effectively transfer immunity to offspring, providing protection against pneumococcal infection.
- This study supports maternal immunization as a viable strategy for developing a universal pneumococcal vaccine.
- The findings suggest that maternal immunization can establish sustained immune memory in offspring.
Introduction:
Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is one of the most widespread pathogens in the world and one of the largest infectious causes of infant mortality. Although current vaccines have various benefits, antibiotic resistance and the inability to vaccinate infants less than one year old demands the development of new protective strategies. One strategy, 'maternal immunization', is to protect infants by passive immunity from an immunized mother, although its mechanism is still not fully understood.
Materials And Methods:
The current study aimed to acquire immunity against S. pneumoniae in infants by maternal immunization with pneumococcal common antigen, pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA). Four-week-old female mice were immunized with recombinant PspA intranasally twice a week for three weeks. Females were mated with age-matched males after immunization, and delivered offspring.
Results:
The week-old offspring derived from and fostered by immunized mothers had more anti-PspA-specific antibody producing cells in the spleen than those derived from sham-immunized mothers. The offspring were raised up to four weeks old and were subcutaneously stimulated with recombinant PspA. The levels of anti-PspA IgG in sera after stimulation were significantly higher in the offspring derived from the immunized mothers and the induced specific antibody to PspA showed protective efficacy against systemic pneumococcal infection.
Discussion:
Maternal immunization is suggested to be able to provide a sustained immune memory to offspring. The current study would be a milestone in the field of maternal immunization toward a universal pneumococcal vaccine.
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