Carole Harfouche,
Sara Filippini,
Claudia Gianfaldoni,
Paolo Ruggiero,
Monica Moschioni,
Silvia Maccari,
Laura Pancotto, Letizia Arcidiacono,
Bruno Galletti,
Stefano Censini, [......],
Francesco Doro,
Michele Pallaoro,
Salvatore Nocadello,
Giuseppe Mancuso,
Mitch Haston,
David Goldblatt,
Michèle A Barocchi,
Mariagrazia Pizza,
Rino Rappuoli,
Vega Masignani
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ABSTRACT: Streptococcus pneumoniae pilus 1 is present in 30 to 50% of invasive disease-causing strains and is composed of three subunits: the adhesin RrgA, the major backbone subunit RrgB, and the minor ancillary protein RrgC. RrgB exists in three distinct genetic variants and, when used to immunize mice, induces an immune response specific for each variant. To generate an antigen able to protect against the infection caused by all pilus-positive S. pneumoniae strains, we engineered a fusion protein containing the three RrgB variants (RrgB321). RrgB321 elicited antibodies against proteins from organisms in the three clades and protected mice against challenge with piliated pneumococcal strains. RrgB321 antisera mediated complement-dependent opsonophagocytosis of piliated strains at levels comparable to those achieved with the PCV7 glycoconjugate vaccine. These results suggest that a vaccine composed of RrgB321 has the potential to cover 30% or more of all pneumococcal strains and support the inclusion of this fusion protein in a multicomponent vaccine against S. pneumoniae.
Infection and immunity 11/2011; 80(1):451-60. · 4.21 Impact Factor
