Abstract
The absence of type specific opsonic antibody in maternal and cord sera has been shown to be a major determinant for the development of invasive neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease. Using immunoelectrophoresis we recently showed that antibody to Streptococcus pneumonia type 14 (SP14) reacted with the hot HC1 extracted polysaccharide antigen of GBS type III (GBS III). The present studies were designed to determine if SP14 antibody is opsonic for GBS III in vitro and protective in vivo. Heat inactivated rabbit antisera against GBS III, SP14 and S. pneumonia type 3 (SP3) were opsonic for homologous organisms in a bacteriocidal assay using human neutrophils and complement. In addition, SP14 antisera was opsonic for GBS III. Preimmunization sera and antisera against SP3 were not opsonic for GBS III. Furthermore in an experimental rat model of neonatal GBS III sepsis, antisera to either SP14 or GBS III significantly increased survival when compared to controls. Naturally acquired immunity to GBS III may be related to the development of antibodies secondary to childhood pneumococcal infections. Since currently available pneumococcal vaccines have been shown to induce anti-SP14 antibodies, protection against neonatal GBS III disease may be possible by maternal immunization using these vaccines.
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Fischer, G., Lowell, G., Crumrine, M. et al. 767 TYPE 14 PNEUMOCOCCAL ANTISERA IS OPSONIC IN VITRO AND PROTECTIVE IN VIVO FOR GROUP B STREPTOCOCCUS TYPE III. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 491 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00772
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00772
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