1
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Megli CJ, DePuyt AE, Goff JP, Munyoki SK, Hooven TA, Jašarević E. Diet influences community dynamics following vaginal group B streptococcus colonization. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0362323. [PMID: 38722155 PMCID: PMC11237455 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03623-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota plays a pivotal role in reproductive, sexual, and perinatal health and disease. Unlike the well-established connections between diet, metabolism, and the intestinal microbiota, parallel mechanisms influencing the vaginal microbiota and pathogen colonization remain overlooked. In this study, we combine a mouse model of Streptococcus agalactiae strain COH1 [group B Streptococcus (GBS)] vaginal colonization with a mouse model of pubertal-onset obesity to assess diet as a determinant of vaginal microbiota composition and its role in colonization resistance. We leveraged culture-dependent assessment of GBS clearance and culture-independent, sequencing-based reconstruction of the vaginal microbiota in relation to diet, obesity, glucose tolerance, and microbial dynamics across time scales. Our findings demonstrate that excessive body weight gain and glucose intolerance are not associated with vaginal GBS density or timing of clearance. Diets high in fat and low in soluble fiber are associated with vaginal GBS persistence, and changes in vaginal microbiota structure and composition due to diet contribute to GBS clearance patterns in nonpregnant mice. These findings underscore a critical need for studies on diet as a key determinant of vaginal microbiota composition and its relevance to reproductive and perinatal outcomes.IMPORTANCEThis work sheds light on diet as a key determinant influencing the composition of vaginal microbiota and its involvement in group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in a mouse model. This study shows that mice fed diets with different nutritional composition display differences in GBS density and timing of clearance in the female reproductive tract. These findings are particularly significant given clear links between GBS and adverse reproductive and neonatal outcomes, advancing our understanding by identifying critical connections between dietary components, factors originating from the intestinal tract, vaginal microbiota, and reproductive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina J. Megli
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Maternal–Fetal Medicine, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Reproductive Infectious Disease, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Allison E. DePuyt
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Julie P. Goff
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sarah K. Munyoki
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Thomas A. Hooven
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Richard King Mellon Institute for Pediatric Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Eldin Jašarević
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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2
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Bhavana VH, Hillebrand GH, Gopalakrishna KP, Rapp RA, Ratner AJ, Tettelin H, Hooven TA. A group B Streptococcus indexed transposon mutant library to accelerate genetic research on an important perinatal pathogen. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0204623. [PMID: 37933989 PMCID: PMC10714824 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02046-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a significant global cause of serious infections, most of which affect pregnant women, newborns, and infants. Studying GBS genetic mutant strains is a valuable approach for learning more about how these infections are caused and is a key step toward developing more effective preventative and treatment strategies. In this resource report, we describe a newly created library of defined GBS genetic mutants, containing over 1,900 genetic variants, each with a unique disruption to its chromosome. An indexed library of this scale is unprecedented in the GBS field; it includes strains with mutations in hundreds of genes whose potential functions in human disease remain unknown. We have made this resource freely available to the broader research community through deposition in a publicly funded bacterial maintenance and distribution repository.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata H. Bhavana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gideon H. Hillebrand
- University of Pittsburgh, Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Rebekah A. Rapp
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Ellis School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Adam J. Ratner
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hervé Tettelin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas A. Hooven
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Richard King Mellon Institute for Pediatric Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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3
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Wang J, Li W, Li N, Wang B. Immunization with Multiple Virulence Factors Provides Maternal and Neonatal Protection against Group B Streptococcus Serotypes. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1459. [PMID: 37766135 PMCID: PMC10535937 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11091459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) commonly colonizes the vaginal tract and is a leading cause of life-threatening neonatal infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. No effective vaccine is clinically available. Conserved bacterial virulence factors, including those of GBS, have been employed as vaccine components. We investigated serotype-independent protection against GBS by intranasal immunization with six conserved GBS virulence factors (GBSV6). GBSV6 induced systemic and vaginal antibodies and T cell responses in mice. The immunity reduced mouse mortality and vaginal colonization by various GBS serotypes and protected newborn mice of immunized dams against GBS challenge. Intranasal GBSV6 immunization also provided long-lasting protective immunity and had advantages over intramuscular GBSV6 immunization regarding restricting vaginal GBS colonization. Our findings indicate that intranasal immunization targeting multiple conserved GBS virulence factors induces serotype-independent immunity, which protects against GBS infection systemically and vaginally in dams and prevents newborn death. The study presents valuable strategies for GBS vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Varnotech Biopharm Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Wenbo Li
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Varnotech Biopharm Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Beinan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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4
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Collins MK, McCutcheon CR, Petroff MG. Impact of Estrogen and Progesterone on Immune Cells and Host–Pathogen Interactions in the Lower Female Reproductive Tract. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 209:1437-1449. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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5
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Haeusler IL, Daniel O, Isitt C, Watts R, Cantrell L, Feng S, Cochet M, Salloum M, Ikram S, Hayter E, Lim S, Hall T, Athaide S, Cosgrove CA, Tregoning JS, Le Doare K. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonisation is dynamic over time, whilst GBS capsular polysaccharides-specific antibody remains stable. Clin Exp Immunol 2022; 209:188-200. [PMID: 35802786 PMCID: PMC9390841 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxac066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes due to invasive infection. This study investigated longitudinal variation in GBS rectovaginal colonization, serum and vaginal GBS capsular polysaccharide (CPS)-specific antibody levels. Non-pregnant women were recruited in the UK and were sampled every 2 weeks over a 12-week period. GBS isolates were taken from recto-vaginal swabs and serotyped by polymerase chain reaction. Serum and vaginal immunoglobulin G (IgG) and nasal immunoglobulin A (IgA) specific to CPS were measured by Luminex, and total IgG/A by ELISA. Seventy women were enrolled, of median age 26. Out of the 66 participants who completed at least three visits: 14/47 (29.8%) women that were GBS negative at screening became positive in follow-up visits and 16/19 (84.2%) women who were GBS positive at screening became negative. There was 50% probability of becoming negative 36 days after the first positive swab. The rate of detectable GBS carriage fluctuated over time, although serum, vaginal, and nasal CPS-specific antibody levels remained constant. Levels of CPS-specific antibodies were higher in the serum of individuals colonized with GBS than in non-colonized, but similar in the vaginal and nasal mucosa. We found correlations between antibody levels in serum and the vaginal and nasal mucosa. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of elution methods to retrieve vaginal and nasal antibodies, and the optimization of immunoassays to measure GBS-CPS-specific antibodies. The difference between the dynamics of colonization and antibody response is interesting and further investigation is required for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- I L Haeusler
- St George's University of London, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, London, United Kingdom
| | - O Daniel
- St George's University of London, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, London, United Kingdom
| | - C Isitt
- St George's University of London, The Vaccine Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - R Watts
- St George's University of London, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, London, United Kingdom
| | - L Cantrell
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford
| | - S Feng
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford
| | - M Cochet
- St George's University of London, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, London, United Kingdom
| | - M Salloum
- St George's University of London, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, London, United Kingdom.,UnivLyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, France
| | - S Ikram
- St George's University of London, The Vaccine Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - E Hayter
- St George's University of London, The Vaccine Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - S Lim
- St George's University of London, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, London, United Kingdom
| | - T Hall
- St George's University of London, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, London, United Kingdom
| | - S Athaide
- St George's University of London, The Vaccine Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - C A Cosgrove
- St George's University of London, The Vaccine Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - J S Tregoning
- Imperial College London, Department of Infectious Disease, London, United Kingdom
| | - K Le Doare
- St George's University of London, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, London, United Kingdom.,Makerere University John Hopkins Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,Pathogen Immunology Group, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
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6
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Dammann AN, Chamby AB, Gonzalez FJ, Sharp ME, Flores K, Shahi I, Dongas S, Hooven TA, Ratner AJ. Group B Streptococcus capsular serotype alters vaginal colonization fitness. J Infect Dis 2021; 225:1896-1904. [PMID: 34788438 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality. A candidate vaccine targets six GBS serotypes, offering a potential alternative to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce disease burden. However, our understanding of the contributions of specific capsule types to GBS colonization and disease remains limited. METHODS Using allelic exchange, we generated isogenic GBS strains differing only in the serotype-determining region in two genetic backgrounds, including the hypervirulent clonal complex (CC) 17. Using a murine model of vaginal co-colonization, we evaluated the roles of the presence of capsule and of expression of specific capsular types in GBS vaginal colonization fitness independent of other genetic factors. RESULTS Encapsulated wild-type strains COH1 (CC17, serotype III) and A909 (non-CC17, serotype Ia), outcompeted isogenic acapsular mutants in murine vaginal co-colonization. COH1 wild-type outcompeted A909. Notably, expression of type Ia capsule conferred an advantage over type III capsule in both genetic backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS Specific capsule types may provide an advantage in GBS vaginal colonization in vivo. However, success of certain GBS lineages, including CC17, likely involves both capsule and non-capsule genetic elements. Capsule switching in GBS, a potential outcome of conjugate vaccine programs, may alter colonization fitness or pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison N Dammann
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna B Chamby
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Francisco J Gonzalez
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Molly E Sharp
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karina Flores
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ifrah Shahi
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sophia Dongas
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas A Hooven
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Richard King Mellon Institute for Pediatric Research, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adam J Ratner
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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7
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Brokaw A, Furuta A, Dacanay M, Rajagopal L, Adams Waldorf KM. Bacterial and Host Determinants of Group B Streptococcal Vaginal Colonization and Ascending Infection in Pregnancy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:720789. [PMID: 34540718 PMCID: PMC8446444 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.720789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a gram-positive bacteria that asymptomatically colonizes the vaginal tract. However, during pregnancy maternal GBS colonization greatly predisposes the mother and baby to a wide range of adverse outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), stillbirth, and neonatal infection. Although many mechanisms involved in GBS pathogenesis are partially elucidated, there is currently no approved GBS vaccine. The development of a safe and effective vaccine that can be administered during or prior to pregnancy remains a principal objective in the field, because current antibiotic-based therapeutic strategies do not eliminate all cases of invasive GBS infections. Herein, we review our understanding of GBS disease pathogenesis at the maternal-fetal interface with a focus on the bacterial virulence factors and host defenses that modulate the outcome of infection. We follow GBS along its path from an asymptomatic colonizer of the vagina to an invasive pathogen at the maternal-fetal interface, noting factors critical for vaginal colonization, ascending infection, and vertical transmission to the fetus. Finally, at each stage of infection we emphasize important host-pathogen interactions, which, if targeted therapeutically, may help to reduce the global burden of GBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Brokaw
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Anna Furuta
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Matthew Dacanay
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Lakshmi Rajagopal
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kristina M Adams Waldorf
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington and Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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8
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Vaz MJ, Purrier SA, Bonakdar M, Chamby AB, Ratner AJ, Randis TM. The Impact of Circulating Antibody on Group B Streptococcus Intestinal Colonization and Invasive Disease. Infect Immun 2020; 89:e00348-20. [PMID: 33077619 PMCID: PMC7927928 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00348-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) colonization with group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an important precursor to late-onset (LO) disease in infants. The host-pathogen interactions that mediate progression to invasive disease remain unknown due, in part, to a paucity of robust model systems. Passively acquired maternal GBS-specific antibodies protect newborns from early-onset disease, yet their impact on GI colonization and LO disease is unexplored. Using murine models of both perinatal and postnatal GBS acquisition, we assessed the kinetics of GBS GI colonization, progression to invasive disease, and the role of GBS-specific IgG production in exposed offspring and juvenile mice at age 12 and 14 days, respectively. We defined LO disease as >7 days of life in the perinatal model. We studied the impact of maternal immunization using a whole-cell GBS vaccine on the duration of intestinal colonization and progression to invasive disease after postnatal GBS exposure in offspring. Animals exhibit sustained GI colonization following both perinatal and postnatal exposure to GBS, with 21% and 27%, respectively, developing invasive disease. Intestinal colonization with GBS induces an endogenous IgG response within 20 days of exposure. Maternal vaccination with whole-cell GBS induces production of GBS-specific IgG in dams that is vertically transmitted to their offspring but does not decrease the duration of GBS intestinal colonization or reduce LO mortality following postnatal GBS exposure. Both perinatal and postnatal murine models of GBS acquisition closely recapitulate the human disease state, in which GBS colonizes the intestine and causes LO disease. We demonstrate both endogenous production of anti-GBS IgG in juvenile mice and vertical transfer of antibodies to offspring following maternal vaccination. These models serve as a platform to study critical host-pathogen interactions that mediate LO GBS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle J Vaz
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sheryl A Purrier
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Maryam Bonakdar
- Pathobiology Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Anna B Chamby
- The University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Adam J Ratner
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tara M Randis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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9
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Dos Santos NFB, da Silva LR, Costa FJMD, de Mattos DM, de Carvalho E, Ferreira LCDS, Ferreira RDCC. Immunization with a recombinant BibA surface protein confers immunity and protects mice against group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaginal colonization. Vaccine 2020; 38:5286-5296. [PMID: 32571719 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.05.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae or group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a Gram-positive bacterium divided into ten distinct serotypes that colonizes the vaginal and rectal tracts of approximately 30% of women worldwide. GBS is the leading cause of invasive infection in newborns, causing sepsis, pneumoniae and meningitis. The main strategy to prevent GSB infection in newborns includes the use of intrapartum antibiotic therapy, which does not prevent late-onset diseases and may select resistant bacterial strains. We still do not have a vaccine formulation specific for this pathogen approved for human use. Conserved surface proteins are potential antigens that could be targets for recognition by antibodies and activation of cell opsonization. We used a serotype V GBS (GBS-V)-derived recombinant surface protein, rBibA, and evaluated the potential protective role of the induced antigen-specific antibodies after parenteral or mucosal immunizations in C57BL/6 mice. In vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated that vaccine formulations containing BibA combined with different adjuvants induced serum IgG and/or secreted IgA antibodies, leading to enhanced opsonophagocytosis of GBS-V cells and reduced invasion of epithelial cells. One BibA-based vaccine formulation adjuvanted with a nontoxic derivative of the heat-labile toxin produced by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains was capable of inducing protection against vaginal colonization and lethal parenteral challenge with GBS-V. Serum collected from vaccinated mice conferred passive protection against vaginal colonization in naïve mice challenged with GBS-V. Taken together, the present data demonstrate that the BibA protein is a promising antigen for development of a vaccine to protect against GBS infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara Fernanda Barros Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Science Institute, University of São Paulo, 1374 Prof. Lineu Prestes Avenue, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Lukas Raposo da Silva
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Science Institute, University of São Paulo, 1374 Prof. Lineu Prestes Avenue, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Fagner James Martins Dantas Costa
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Science Institute, University of São Paulo, 1374 Prof. Lineu Prestes Avenue, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Daniely Maranhão de Mattos
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Science Institute, University of São Paulo, 1374 Prof. Lineu Prestes Avenue, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Enéas de Carvalho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology I, Biotechnology Center, Butantan Institute, 1500 Vital Brasil Avenue, São Paulo, SP 03178-200, Brazil.
| | - Luís Carlos de Souza Ferreira
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Science Institute, University of São Paulo, 1374 Prof. Lineu Prestes Avenue, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Rita de Cássia Café Ferreira
- Laboratory of Vaccine Development, Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Science Institute, University of São Paulo, 1374 Prof. Lineu Prestes Avenue, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
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10
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Wójkowska-Mach J, Chmielarczyk A, Strus M, Lauterbach R, Heczko P. Neonate Bloodstream Infections in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Countries: An Update on Epidemiology and Prevention. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E1750. [PMID: 31640253 PMCID: PMC6832148 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The term neonatal sepsis is used to describe a generalized bloodstream infection of bacterial, viral, or fungal origin which is associated with hemodynamic changes and other clinical symptoms and signs, however, there is no unified definition. There are no basic criteria regarding differentiation of early-onset sepsis (EOS) versus late-onset sepsis (LOS). Stratification used in studies on neonatal sepsis also rarely includes the general condition of the newborn according to unambiguous assessment at birth, which hampers the establishment of a clear, uniform epidemiological description of neonatal sepsis. We aim to review the published data about the epidemiology and microbiology of sepsis in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Data was also collected on sepsis prevention programs that can be implemented in neonatal units. The outcomes of interest were incidence or incidence density of EOS and LOS, microbiology of EOS and LOS, and data on the methodology of the research, in particular the criteria for inclusion and exclusion of newborns from the study. Pubmed, EMBASE, LILACS Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar were used. For the preselection step, inclusion criteria included: "bloodstream infection" or "neonatal sepsis" (MesH), "very low birth weight", and "country" full-text studies, human, and English language. Exclusion criteria included: studies published in languages other than English and studies available only as an abstracts. For proper selection, inclusion criteria included: information about epidemiology or microbiology bloodstream infection (BSI), study population and case definitions, exclusion criteria, narrative reviews, commentaries, case studies, pilot studies, study protocols, pediatric studies, and only clinical data (without microbiology or epidemiology) or studies with only one etiological factor analysis. The data review indicated the lack of an unequivocal, unified definition and no unambiguous basic criteria with regard to differentiation of EOS versus LOS. Among infants <1500 g, studies reported an EOS rate from 7% to 2%. For studies using other definitions (mostly all inborn babies), the rate of EOS ranged from 1% to 3%. The LOS incidences were much more varied among countries; the highest rates were in the multicenter studies focused on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The main pathogens in EOS are GBS and Gram-negative bacteria in LOS. Our review data shows that LOS microbiology is very diverse and that Gram-positive cocci, especially staphylococci, predominate versus Gram-negative rods. Unfortunately, the lack of uniform, international prevention programs results in high newborn morbidity and insufficient postnatal prevention of late-onset infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jadwiga Wójkowska-Mach
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-121 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Chmielarczyk
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-121 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Strus
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-121 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Ryszard Lauterbach
- Neonatology Clinic, University Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-121 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Piotr Heczko
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-121 Krakow, Poland.
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11
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Gilbert NM, Lewis WG, Li G, Sojka DK, Lubin JB, Lewis AL. Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia Trigger Distinct and Overlapping Phenotypes in a Mouse Model of Bacterial Vaginosis. J Infect Dis 2019; 220:1099-1108. [PMID: 30715405 PMCID: PMC6736442 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common imbalance of the vaginal microbiota characterized by overgrowth of diverse Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Gram-negative anaerobes. Women with BV are at increased risk of secondary reproductive tract infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, which specific bacteria cause clinical features of BV is unclear. METHODS We previously demonstrated that Gardnerella vaginalis could elicit many BV features in mice. In this study, we established a BV model in which we coinfected mice with G. vaginalis and another species commonly found in women with BV: Prevotella bivia. RESULTS This coinfection model recapitulates several aspects of human BV, including vaginal sialidase activity (a diagnostic BV feature independently associated with adverse outcomes), epithelial exfoliation, and ascending infection. It is notable that G. vaginalis facilitated uterine infection by P. bivia. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our model provides a framework for advancing our understanding of the role of individual or combinations of BV-associated bacteria in BV pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Gilbert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Center or Reproductive Health Sciences, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Warren G Lewis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Guocai Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Yangzhou University College of Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dorothy K Sojka
- Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jean Bernard Lubin
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark
| | - Amanda L Lewis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research, Rheumatology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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12
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Soto JA, Diaz-Dinamarca DA, Soto DA, Barrientos MJ, Carrión F, Kalergis AM, Vasquez AE. Cellular immune response induced by surface immunogenic protein with AbISCO-100 adjuvant vaccination decreases group B Streptococcus vaginal colonization. Mol Immunol 2019; 111:198-204. [PMID: 31078966 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2019.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) represents one of the most common causes of bacterial infection in neonates; it is also associated with premature childbirth and stillbirth. A vaccine against GBS is needed, but no approved vaccines are yet available. The Surface Immunogenic Protein (SIP) of GBS is conserved in all serotypes and had been reported to be a good vaccine prototype in a mouse model of GBS infection. Also, we have previously shown that both subcutaneous and oral immunization with rSIP can induce an efficient immune response that decreases GBS vaginal colonization in mice. In this study, we show that a vaccine based on a mixture of rSIP and AbISCO-100 adjuvant reduces GBS vaginal colonization in mice and induces antibodies with opsonophagocytic activities. Moreover, the passive transfer of sera and total T-cells from mice immunized with rSIP mixed with AbISCO-100 to unvaccinated mice decreases vaginal GBS colonization in an infected mouse. This is the first report of cellular immunity associated with rSIP-based vaccine testing in a mouse model of GBS infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A Soto
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Diego A Diaz-Dinamarca
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel A Soto
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Magaly J Barrientos
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Flavio Carrión
- Programa de Inmunología Trasnacional, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis M Kalergis
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Abel E Vasquez
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián. Providencia, Santiago, Chile.
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13
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Armistead B, Oler E, Adams Waldorf K, Rajagopal L. The Double Life of Group B Streptococcus: Asymptomatic Colonizer and Potent Pathogen. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:2914-2931. [PMID: 30711542 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a β-hemolytic gram-positive bacterium that colonizes the lower genital tract of approximately 18% of women globally as an asymptomatic member of the gastrointestinal and/or vaginal flora. If established in other host niches, however, GBS is highly pathogenic. During pregnancy, ascending GBS infection from the vagina to the intrauterine space is associated with preterm birth, stillbirth, and fetal injury. In addition, vertical transmission of GBS during or after birth results in life-threatening neonatal infections, including pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. Although the mechanisms by which GBS traffics from the lower genital tract to vulnerable host niches are not well understood, recent advances have revealed that many of the same bacterial factors that promote asymptomatic vaginal carriage also facilitate dissemination and virulence. Furthermore, highly pathogenic GBS strains have acquired unique factors that enhance survival in invasive niches. Several host factors also exist that either subdue GBS upon vaginal colonization or alternatively permit invasive infection. This review summarizes the GBS and host factors involved in GBS's state as both an asymptomatic colonizer and an invasive pathogen. Gaining a better understanding of these mechanisms is key to overcoming the challenges associated with vaccine development and identification of novel strategies to mitigate GBS virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair Armistead
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, WA, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle 98101, WA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Oler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195, WA, USA
| | - Kristina Adams Waldorf
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, WA, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195, WA, USA; Center for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease, University of Washington, Seattle 98109, WA, USA; Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg 413 90, Sweden
| | - Lakshmi Rajagopal
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, WA, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle 98101, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195, WA, USA.
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14
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Vrbanac A, Riestra AM, Coady A, Knight R, Nizet V, Patras KA. The murine vaginal microbiota and its perturbation by the human pathogen group B Streptococcus. BMC Microbiol 2018; 18:197. [PMID: 30477439 PMCID: PMC6260558 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-018-1341-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Composition of the vaginal microbiota has significant influence on female urogenital health and control of infectious disease. Murine models are widely utilized to characterize host-pathogen interactions within the vaginal tract, however, the composition of endogenous vaginal flora remains largely undefined with modern microbiome analyses. Here, we employ 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to establish the native microbial composition of the vaginal tract in adult C57Bl/6 J mice. We further interrogate the impact of estrous cycle and introduction of the human vaginal pathobiont, group B Streptococcus (GBS) on community state type and stability, and conversely, the impact of the vaginal microbiota on GBS persistence. RESULTS Sequencing analysis revealed five distinctive community states of the vaginal microbiota dominated largely by Staphylococcus and/or Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, or a mixed population. Stage of estrus did not impact microbial composition. Introduction of GBS decreased community stability at early timepoints; and in some mice, GBS became the dominant bacterium by day 21. Endogenous Staphylococcus abundance correlated with GBS ascension into the uterus, and increased community stability in GBS-challenged mice. CONCLUSIONS The murine vaginal flora is diverse and fluctuates independently of the estrous cycle. Endogenous flora may impact pathogen colonization and dissemination and should be considered in urogenital infection models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Vrbanac
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, MC 0760, La Jolla, CA 92093-0760 USA
| | - Angelica M. Riestra
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, MC 0760, La Jolla, CA 92093-0760 USA
| | - Alison Coady
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, MC 0760, La Jolla, CA 92093-0760 USA
| | - Rob Knight
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, MC 0760, La Jolla, CA 92093-0760 USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Victor Nizet
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, MC 0760, La Jolla, CA 92093-0760 USA
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Kathryn A. Patras
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, MC 0760, La Jolla, CA 92093-0760 USA
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15
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Diaz-Dinamarca DA, Soto DA, Leyton YY, Altamirano-Lagos MJ, Avendaño MJ, Kalergis AM, Vasquez AE. Oral vaccine based on a surface immunogenic protein mixed with alum promotes a decrease in Streptococcus agalactiae vaginal colonization in a mouse model. Mol Immunol 2018; 103:63-70. [PMID: 30205305 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The Surface Immunogenic Protein (SIP) of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) had been described as a good target for vaccine development. To date, SIP has been reported as a highly conserved protein, and in a mouse model it induces protection against lethal GBS challenge. Also, similar effects have been described by intranasal immunization with a SIP-based vaccine. In this study, we show the immune response induced by an oral SIP-based vaccine formulated on alum in a mouse model. Our vaccine can reduce vaginal GBS colonization and induce specific SIP-antibodies with opsonophagocytosis activities against GBS. Moreover, we observed the activation of T-cells producing IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-2, and increased expression of the transcription factor T-bet, suggesting a Th1-type humoral response. The oral SIP-based vaccine is a novel alternative in the development of a vaccine against GBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Diaz-Dinamarca
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile; Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - D A Soto
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile
| | - Y Y Leyton
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile
| | - M J Altamirano-Lagos
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile; Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - M J Avendaño
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile; Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - A M Kalergis
- Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - A E Vasquez
- Sección de Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Chile; Universidad San Sebastián, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Escuela de Bioquímica, Providencia, Santiago, Chile.
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16
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Díaz-Dinamarca DA, Jerias JI, Soto DA, Soto JA, Díaz NV, Leyton YY, Villegas RA, Kalergis AM, Vásquez AE. The Optimisation of the Expression of Recombinant Surface Immunogenic Protein of Group B Streptococcus in Escherichia coli by Response Surface Methodology Improves Humoral Immunity. Mol Biotechnol 2018; 60:215-225. [PMID: 29442290 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-018-0065-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal meningitis and a common pathogen in livestock and aquaculture industries around the world. Conjugate polysaccharide and protein-based vaccines are under development. The surface immunogenic protein (SIP) is a conserved protein in all GBS serotypes and has been shown to be a good target for vaccine development. The expression of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli cells has been shown to be useful in the development of vaccines, and the protein purification is a factor affecting their immunogenicity. The response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design can optimise the performance in the expression of recombinant proteins. However, the biological effect in mice immunised with an immunogenic protein that is optimised by RSM and purified by low-affinity chromatography is unknown. In this study, we used RSM for the optimisation of the expression of the rSIP, and we evaluated the SIP-specific humoral response and the property to decrease the GBS colonisation in the vaginal tract in female mice. It was observed by NI-NTA chromatography that the RSM increases the yield in the expression of rSIP, generating a better purification process. This improvement in rSIP purification suggests a better induction of IgG anti-SIP immune response and a positive effect in the decreased GBS intravaginal colonisation. The RSM applied to optimise the expression of recombinant proteins with immunogenic capacity is an interesting alternative in the evaluation of vaccines in preclinical phase, which could improve their immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Díaz-Dinamarca
- Sección Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - José I Jerias
- Sección Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel A Soto
- Sección Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge A Soto
- Sección Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Natalia V Díaz
- Sección Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yessica Y Leyton
- Sección Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A Villegas
- Departamento de Asuntos Científicos, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis M Kalergis
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina Pontificia, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Abel E Vásquez
- Sección Biotecnología, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago, Chile. .,Facultad de Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Providencia, Santiago, Chile.
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17
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Gupalova T, Leontieva G, Kramskaya T, Grabovskaya K, Bormotova E, Korjevski D, Suvorov A. Development of experimental GBS vaccine for mucosal immunization. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196564. [PMID: 29727446 PMCID: PMC5935385 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae, or group B streptococcus (GBS), is an important pathogen as it is the leading cause of neonatal deaths due to sepsis, meningitis or bacterial pneumonia. Although the development of an effective and safe GBS vaccine is on the agenda of many research labs, there is no GBS vaccine on the market yet. In the present study we attempted to engineer a live vaccine strain based on Bac, a surface protein of GBS, incorporated into a surface fimbrial protein of probiotic Enterococcus. The resulting strain induced specific systemic and local immune responses in mice and provided protection against GBS when administered via the intranasal, oral or intravaginal immunization routes.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Intranasal
- Administration, Intravaginal
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial/biosynthesis
- Antibodies, Bacterial/blood
- Bacterial Load
- Bacterial Proteins/genetics
- Bacterial Proteins/immunology
- Enterococcus faecium/genetics
- Enterococcus faecium/immunology
- Female
- Fimbriae Proteins/genetics
- Fimbriae Proteins/immunology
- Immunity, Mucosal
- Mice
- Probiotics
- Streptococcal Infections/immunology
- Streptococcal Infections/microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections/prevention & control
- Streptococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Streptococcal Vaccines/genetics
- Streptococcal Vaccines/immunology
- Streptococcus agalactiae/genetics
- Streptococcus agalactiae/immunology
- Streptococcus agalactiae/pathogenicity
- Vaccines, Conjugate/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Conjugate/genetics
- Vaccines, Conjugate/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Gupalova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - G. Leontieva
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
- * E-mail:
| | - T. Kramskaya
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - K. Grabovskaya
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - E. Bormotova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - D. Korjevski
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - A. Suvorov
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
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18
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Protective effect of Group B Streptococcus type-III polysaccharide conjugates against maternal colonization, ascending infection and neonatal transmission in rodent models. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2593. [PMID: 29416049 PMCID: PMC5803199 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20609-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a normal inhabitant of recto-vaginal mucosae in up to 30% of healthy women. Colonization is a major risk factor for perinatal infection which can lead to severe complications such as stillbirth and neonatal invasive disease. Intra-partum antibiotic prophylaxis in colonized women is a safe and cost-effective preventive measure against early-onset disease in the first days of life, but has no effect on late-onset manifestations or on early maternal infection. Maternal immunization with capsular polysaccharide-based vaccines shows promise for the prevention of both early-onset and late-onset neonatal infections, although ability to prevent maternal colonization and ascending infection has been less studied. Here we investigated the effect of a GBS glycoconjugate vaccine since the very early stage of maternal GBS acquisition to neonatal outcome by rodent models of vaginal colonization and ascending infection. Immunization of female mice and rats with a type III glycoconjugate reduced vaginal colonization, infection of chorioamniotic/ placental membranes and bacterial transmission to fetuses and pups. Type III specific antibodies were detected in the blood and vagina of vaccinated mothers and their offspring. The obtained data support a potential preventive effect of GBS glycoconjugate vaccines during the different stages of pregnancy.
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19
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Lin SM, Zhi Y, Ahn KB, Lim S, Seo HS. Status of group B streptococcal vaccine development. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2018; 7:76-81. [PMID: 29399583 PMCID: PMC5795048 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2018.7.1.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS) is a leading causal organism of neonatal invasive diseases and severe infections in the elderly. Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of GBS infections and improvement in personal hygiene standards, this pathogen is still a global health concern. Thus, an effective vaccine against GBS would augment existing strategies to substantially decrease GBS infection. In 2014, World Health Organization convened the first meeting for consultation on GBS vaccine development, focusing on the GBS maternal immunization program, which was aimed at reducing infections in neonates and young infants worldwide. Here, we review the history of GBS infections, the current vaccine candidates, and the current status of immunogenicity assays used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of GBS vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Mei Lin
- Research Division for Biotechnology, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Korea.,Department of Molecular Medicine (BrainKorea21 Plus), Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Yong Zhi
- Research Division for Biotechnology, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Korea.,Department of Radiation Biotechnology and Applied Radioisotope Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ki Bum Ahn
- Research Division for Biotechnology, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Korea
| | - Sangyong Lim
- Research Division for Biotechnology, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Korea.,Department of Radiation Biotechnology and Applied Radioisotope Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ho Seong Seo
- Research Division for Biotechnology, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Korea.,Department of Radiation Biotechnology and Applied Radioisotope Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
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20
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Patras KA, Nizet V. Group B Streptococcal Maternal Colonization and Neonatal Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Preventative Approaches. Front Pediatr 2018; 6:27. [PMID: 29520354 PMCID: PMC5827363 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonizes the gastrointestinal and vaginal epithelium of a significant percentage of healthy women, with potential for ascending intrauterine infection or transmission during parturition, creating a risk of serious disease in the vulnerable newborn. This review highlights new insights on the bacterial virulence determinants, host immune responses, and microbiome interactions that underpin GBS vaginal colonization, the proximal step in newborn infectious disease pathogenesis. From the pathogen perspective, the function GBS adhesins and biofilms, β-hemolysin/cytolysin toxin, immune resistance factors, sialic acid mimicry, and two-component transcriptional regulatory systems are reviewed. From the host standpoint, pathogen recognition, cytokine responses, and the vaginal mucosal and placental immunity to the pathogen are detailed. Finally, the rationale, efficacy, and potential unintended consequences of current universal recommended intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis are considered, with updates on new developments toward a GBS vaccine or alternative approaches to reducing vaginal colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A Patras
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Victor Nizet
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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21
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Kolter J, Henneke P. Codevelopment of Microbiota and Innate Immunity and the Risk for Group B Streptococcal Disease. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1497. [PMID: 29209311 PMCID: PMC5701622 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of neonatal late-onset sepsis (LOD), which manifests between the third day and the third month of life, remains poorly understood. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the most important cause of LOD in infants without underlying diseases or prematurity and the third most frequent cause of meningitis in the Western world. On the other hand, GBS is a common intestinal colonizer in infants. Accordingly, despite its adaption to the human lower gastrointestinal tract, GBS has retained its potential virulence and its transition from a commensal to a dangerous pathogen is unpredictable in the individual. Several cellular innate immune mechanisms, in particular Toll-like receptors, the inflammasome and the cGAS pathway, are engaged by GBS effectors like nucleic acids. These are likely to impact on the GBS-specific host resistance. Given the long evolution of streptococci as a normal constituent of the human microbiota, the emergence of GBS as the dominant neonatal sepsis cause just about 50 years ago is remarkable. It appears that intensive usage of tetracycline starting in the 1940s has been a selection advantage for the currently dominant GBS clones with superior adhesive and invasive properties. The historical replacement of Group A by Group B streptococci as a leading neonatal pathogen and the higher frequency of other β-hemolytic streptococci in areas with low GBS prevalence suggests the existence of a confined streptococcal niche, where locally competing streptococcal species are subject to environmental and immunological selection pressure. Thus, it seems pivotal to resolve neonatal innate immunity at mucous surfaces and its impact on microbiome composition and quality, i.e., genetic heterogeneity and metabolism, at the microanatomical level. Then, designer pro- and prebiotics, such as attenuated strains of GBS, and oligonucleotide priming of mucosal immunity may unfold their potential and facilitate adaptation of potentially hazardous streptococci as part of a beneficial local microbiome, which is stabilized by mucocutaneous innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kolter
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Henneke
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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22
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Choi MJ, Noh JY, Cheong HJ, Kim WJ, Lin SM, Zhi Y, Lim JH, Lim S, Seo HS, Song JY. Development of a multiplexed opsonophagocytic killing assay (MOPA) for group B Streptococcus. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2017; 14:67-73. [PMID: 28933634 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1377379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of sepsis in infants as well as chorioamnionitis in pregnant women. Opsonophagocytic killing assays (OPAs) are an essential technique in vaccine studies of encapsulated bacteria for estimating serotype-specific functional antibody levels in vitro. Here, we developed a three-fold multiplexed OPA (MOPA) to enable practical, large-scale assessment of GBS vaccine immunogenicity, including against serotypes Ia, III, and V. First, three target bacteria strains resistant to streptomycin, spectinomycin, or kanamycin were generated by natural selection through exposure to increasing antibiotic concentrations. Since a high level of nonspecific killing (NSK) of serotype V was observed in a 12.5% baby rabbit complement (BRC) solution, the BRC concentration was optimized. The final GBS-MOPA BRC concentration was 9%, which resulted in less than 20% NSK. The specificity was measured by preabsorbing serum with inactivated GBS. The opsonic index (OI) of preabsorbed serum with the homologous serotype GBS was significantly reduced in all three serotypes tested. The accuracy of the MOPA was compared with that of a single OPA (SOPA) with 35 serum samples. The OIs of the MOPA correlated well with those of the SOPA, and the r2 values were higher than 0.950 for all three serotypes. The precision of the MOPA assay was assessed in five independent experiments with five serum samples. The inter-assay precision of the GBS-MOPA was 12.5% of the average coefficient of variation. This is the first report to develop and standardize a GBS-MOPA, which will be useful for GBS vaccine development and evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Joo Choi
- a Department of Internal Medicine , Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Yun Noh
- a Department of Internal Medicine , Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jin Cheong
- a Department of Internal Medicine , Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Joo Kim
- a Department of Internal Medicine , Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Shun-Mei Lin
- b Biotechnology Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute , Jeongeup , Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Zhi
- b Biotechnology Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute , Jeongeup , Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hyang Lim
- c Department of Microbiology and Tissue Injury Defense Research Center , Ewha Womans University School of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Sangyong Lim
- b Biotechnology Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute , Jeongeup , Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Seong Seo
- b Biotechnology Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute , Jeongeup , Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Young Song
- a Department of Internal Medicine , Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea
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Vornhagen J, Adams Waldorf KM, Rajagopal L. Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Infections: Virulence Factors, Immunity, and Prevention Strategies. Trends Microbiol 2017. [PMID: 28633864 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) or Streptococcus agalactiae is a β-hemolytic, Gram-positive bacterium that is a leading cause of neonatal infections. GBS commonly colonizes the lower gastrointestinal and genital tracts and, during pregnancy, neonates are at risk of infection. Although intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis during labor and delivery has decreased the incidence of early-onset neonatal infection, these measures do not prevent ascending infection that can occur earlier in pregnancy leading to preterm births, stillbirths, or late-onset neonatal infections. Prevention of GBS infection in pregnancy is complex and is likely influenced by multiple factors, including pathogenicity, host factors, vaginal microbiome, false-negative screening, and/or changes in antibiotic resistance. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of GBS infections during pregnancy will facilitate the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines. Here, we summarize and discuss important advancements in our understanding of GBS vaginal colonization, ascending infection, and preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay Vornhagen
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kristina M Adams Waldorf
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lakshmi Rajagopal
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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