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Le Doare K, Gaylord MA, Anderson AS, Andrews N, Baker CJ, Bolcen S, Felek A, Giardina PC, Grube CD, Hall T, Hallis B, Izu A, Madhi SA, Maniatis P, Matheson M, Mawas F, McKeen A, Rhodes J, Alston B, Patel P, Schrag S, Simon R, Tan CY, Taylor S, Kwatra G, Gorringe A. Interlaboratory comparison of a multiplex immunoassay that measures human serum IgG antibodies against six-group B streptococcus polysaccharides. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2330138. [PMID: 38608170 PMCID: PMC11018077 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2330138] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Measurement of IgG antibodies against group B streptococcus (GBS) capsular polysaccharide (CPS) by use of a standardized and internationally accepted multiplex immunoassay is important for the evaluation of candidate maternal GBS vaccines in order to compare results across studies. A standardized assay is also required if serocorrelates of protection against invasive GBS disease are to be established in infant sera for the six predominant GBS serotypes since it would permit the comparison of results across the six serotypes. We undertook an interlaboratory study across five laboratories that used standardized assay reagents and protocols with a panel of 44 human sera to measure IgG antibodies against GBS CPS serotypes Ia, Ib, II, III, IV, and V. The within-laboratory intermediate precision, which included factors like the lot of coated beads, laboratory analyst, and day, was generally below 20% relative standard deviation (RSD) for all six serotypes, across all five laboratories. The cross-laboratory reproducibility was < 25% RSD for all six serotypes, which demonstrated the consistency of results across the different laboratories. Additionally, anti-CPS IgG concentrations for the 44-member human serum panel were established. The results of this study showed assay robustness and that the resultant anti-CPS IgG concentrations were reproducible across laboratories for the six GBS CPS serotypes when the standardized assay was used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty Le Doare
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, UK
- Makerere University Johns Hopkins University, Kampala, Uganda
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, UK
| | | | | | - Nick Andrews
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), London, UK
| | - Carol J. Baker
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Disease, McGovern Medical School and UT Health, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shanna Bolcen
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Arif Felek
- Vaccine Division, Scientific Research & Innovation Group, MHRA, Potters Bar, UK
| | | | | | - Tom Hall
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Alane Izu
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Science/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Shabir A. Madhi
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Science/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Pete Maniatis
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Fatme Mawas
- Vaccine Division, Scientific Research & Innovation Group, MHRA, Potters Bar, UK
| | - Andrew McKeen
- Pfizer Global Biometrics & Data Management, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Julia Rhodes
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Palak Patel
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stephanie Schrag
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Raphael Simon
- Pfizer Vaccine Research & Development, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | - Charles Y. Tan
- Pfizer Global Biometrics & Data Management, Pearl River, NY, USA
| | | | - Gaurav Kwatra
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Science/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
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Gaylord MA, Larrier M, Giordano-Schmidt D, Grube CD, Singh S, Nguyen HH, McKeen A, Tan CY, Anderson AS, Kalina WV, Pavliakova D, Giardina PC. Development and validation of a 6-plex Luminex-based assay for measuring human serum antibodies to group B streptococcus capsular polysaccharides. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2311480. [PMID: 38608171 PMCID: PMC11018021 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2311480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Six serotypes (Ia, Ib, II, III, IV, and V) cause nearly all group B streptococcal (GBS) disease globally. Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) conjugate vaccines aim to prevent GBS disease, however, licensure of a vaccine would depend on a standardized serological assay for measuring anti-CPS IgG responses. A multiplex direct Luminex-based immunoassay (dLIA) has been developed to simultaneously measure the concentration of serum IgG specific for the six prevalent GBS CPS serotypes. Assay validation was performed using serum samples obtained from human subjects vaccinated with an investigational 6-valent GBS CPS conjugate vaccine. Results for the assay are expressed as IgG concentrations (µg/mL) using a human serum reference standard composed of pooled sera from vaccinated subjects. The lower limits of quantitation (LLOQ) for all serotypes covered in the 6-plex GBS IgG dLIA fell within the range of 0.002-0.022 µg/mL IgG. Taken together, the 6-plex GBS IgG dLIA platform is specific for the six GBS serotypes included in Pfizer's investigational vaccine, has a wide dilution adjusted assay range, and is precise (<18.5% relative standard deviation) for all serotypes, and, therefore, is suitable for quantitatively measuring vaccine-induced or naturally acquired serotype-specific anti-CPS IgG responses against GBS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melissa Larrier
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Suddham Singh
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, USA
| | - Ha H. Nguyen
- Global Biometrics & Data Management, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, USA
| | - Andrew McKeen
- Global Biometrics & Data Management, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, USA
| | - Charles Y. Tan
- Global Biometrics & Data Management, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | | | - Warren V. Kalina
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, USA
| | - Danka Pavliakova
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, USA
| | - Peter C. Giardina
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, USA
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Karampatsas K, Hall T, Voysey M, Carreras-Abad C, Cochet M, Ramkhelawon L, Peregrine E, Andrews N, Heath PT, Le Doare K. Antibody kinetics between birth and three months of life in healthy infants with natural exposure to Group B streptococcus: A UK cohort study. Vaccine 2024; 42:3230-3238. [PMID: 38627147 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) serotype-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in cord blood has been proposed as a correlate of protection against invasive Group B Streptococcus (iGBS) disease. Although protective levels are required in infants throughout the window of vulnerability up to 3 months of age, little is known regarding the kinetics of GBS-specific IgG over this period. METHODS We enrolled 33 healthy infants born to mothers colonized with GBS. We collected cord blood and infant blood samples either at one (21-35 days), two (49-63 days), or three months of age (77-91 days). We measured GBS serotype-specific CPS IgG concentrations and calculated the decay rate using a mixed-effects model. We further explored whether the antibody kinetics were affected by common maternal and infant factors and estimated the correlation between IgG concentration at birth and one, two, and three months of age. RESULTS The half-life estimate of IgG concentration for homologous and non-homologous GBS serotypes in paired samples with detectable IgG levels at both time points was 27.4 (95 % CI: 23.5-32.9) days. The decay rate did not vary by maternal age (p = 0.7), ethnicity (p = 0.1), gravida (p = 0.1), gestation (p = 0.7), and infant sex (p = 0.1). Predicted IgG titres above the assay lower limit of quantification on day 30 strongly correlated with titres at birth (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.71 [95 % CI: 0.60-0.80]). CONCLUSION Our results provide a basis for future investigations into the use of antibody kinetics in defining a serocorrelate of protection against late-onset iGBS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Karampatsas
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Tom Hall
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Merryn Voysey
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Clara Carreras-Abad
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Madeleine Cochet
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laxmee Ramkhelawon
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elisabeth Peregrine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Andrews
- UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul T Heath
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom; Pathogen Immunology Group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom; Makerere University Johns Hopkins University, Kampala, Uganda
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Borghesi A. Life-threatening infections in human newborns: Reconciling age-specific vulnerability and interindividual variability. Cell Immunol 2024; 397-398:104807. [PMID: 38232634 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2024.104807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In humans, the interindividual variability of clinical outcome following exposure to a microorganism is immense, ranging from silent infection to life-threatening disease. Age-specific immune responses partially account for the high incidence of infection during the first 28 days of life and the related high mortality at population level. However, the occurrence of life-threatening disease in individual newborns remains unexplained. By contrast, inborn errors of immunity and their immune phenocopies are increasingly being discovered in children and adults with life-threatening viral, bacterial, mycobacterial and fungal infections. There is a need for convergence between the fields of neonatal immunology, with its in-depth population-wide characterization of newborn-specific immune responses, and clinical immunology, with its investigations of infections in patients at the cellular and molecular levels, to facilitate identification of the mechanisms of susceptibility to infection in individual newborns and the design of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Borghesi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, San Matteo Research Hospital, Pavia, EU, Italy; School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Bjerkhaug AU, Ramalingham S, Mboizi R, Le Doare K, Klingenberg C. The immunogenicity and safety of Group B Streptococcal maternal vaccines: A systematic review. Vaccine 2024; 42:84-98. [PMID: 38072754 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.11.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To systematically review immunogenicity and safety data of maternal group B streptococcal (GBS) vaccines in published clinical trials until July 2023. METHODS EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and clinicaltrial.gov. databases were searched for clinical studies that reported immunogenicity and/or safety of GBS vaccine in non-pregnant adults, pregnant women and infants between 1st of January 1996 to 31st of July 2023. Pairs of reviewers independently selected, data extracted, and assessed the risk of bias of the studies. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus. (PROSPERO CRD42020185213). RESULTS We retrieved 1472 records from the literature search; 20 studies and 6 sub-studies were included, involving 4440 non-pregnant participants and 1325 pregnant women with their newborns. There was a significantly higher IgG Geometric Mean Concentration (GMC) and IgG placental transfer ratios in vaccinated compared to placebo groups, with peak response 4-8 weeks after vaccination. Placental transfer ratio varied from 0.4 to 1.4 across five studies. The different clinical trials used different assays that limited direct comparison. There were no significant differences in the risk of serious adverse events (adjusted OR 0.73; 95 % CI 0.49-1.07), serious adverse events leading to withdrawal (adjusted OR 0.44; 95 % CI 0.13-1.51), and systemic illness or fever (adjusted OR 1.05; 95 % CI 0.26-4.19) between the vaccine and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS The published clinical trials show significant IgG GMC response in subjects receiving the conjugated capsular polysaccharide and surface subunit protein vaccines compared to placebo. In current clinical trials of experimental GBS maternal vaccines, there have been no observed serious adverse events of special interest directly linked to vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline U Bjerkhaug
- Paediatric Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Paediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Shouwmika Ramalingham
- Paediatric Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Robert Mboizi
- Makerere University Johns Hopkins University (MU-JHU) Research Collaboration (MUJHU CARE LTD), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Makerere University Johns Hopkins University (MU-JHU) Research Collaboration (MUJHU CARE LTD), Kampala, Uganda; Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Maternal and Neonatal Vaccine Immunology Research Group, St Georgés University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Claus Klingenberg
- Paediatric Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Paediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Leung S, Collett CF, Allen L, Lim S, Maniatis P, Bolcen SJ, Alston B, Patel PY, Kwatra G, Hall T, Thomas S, Taylor S, Le Doare K, Gorringe A. Development of A Standardized Opsonophagocytosis Killing Assay for Group B Streptococcus and Assessment in an Interlaboratory Study. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1703. [PMID: 38006035 PMCID: PMC10675794 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11111703] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The placental transfer of antibodies that mediate bacterial clearance via phagocytes is likely important for protection against invasive group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease. A robust functional assay is essential to determine the immune correlates of protection and assist vaccine development. Using standard reagents, we developed and optimized an opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPKA) where dilutions of test sera were incubated with bacteria, baby rabbit complement (BRC) and differentiated HL60 cells (dHL60) for 30 min. Following overnight incubation, the surviving bacteria were enumerated and the % bacterial survival was calculated relative to serum-negative controls. A reciprocal 50% killing titer was then assigned. The minimal concentrations of anti-capsular polysaccharide (CPS) IgG required for 50% killing were 1.65-3.70 ng/mL (depending on serotype). Inhibition of killing was observed using sera absorbed with homologous CPS but not heterologous CPS, indicating specificity for anti-CPS IgG. The assay performance was examined in an interlaboratory study using residual sera from CPS-conjugate vaccine trials with international partners in the Group B Streptococcus Assay STandardisatiON (GASTON) Consortium. Strong correlations of reported titers between laboratories were observed: ST-Ia r = 0.88, ST-Ib r = 0.91, ST-II r = 0.91, ST-III r = 0.90 and ST-V r = 0.94. The OPKA is an easily transferable assay with accessible standard reagents and will be a valuable tool to assess GBS-specific antibodies in natural immunity and vaccine studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Leung
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK (A.G.)
| | - Clare F. Collett
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK (A.G.)
| | - Lauren Allen
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK (A.G.)
| | - Suzanna Lim
- Maternal and Neonatal Vaccine Immunology Research Group, Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK; (S.L.); (T.H.)
| | - Pete Maniatis
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (P.M.)
| | - Shanna J. Bolcen
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (P.M.)
| | | | - Palak Y. Patel
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (P.M.)
| | - Gaurav Kwatra
- South African Medical Research Council, Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa;
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Tom Hall
- Maternal and Neonatal Vaccine Immunology Research Group, Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK; (S.L.); (T.H.)
| | - Stephen Thomas
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK (A.G.)
| | - Stephen Taylor
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK (A.G.)
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Maternal and Neonatal Vaccine Immunology Research Group, Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, St George’s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK; (S.L.); (T.H.)
| | - Andrew Gorringe
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK (A.G.)
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Trotter CL, Alderson M, Dangor Z, Ip M, Le Doare K, Nakabembe E, Procter SR, Sekikubo M, Lambach P. Vaccine value profile for Group B streptococcus. Vaccine 2023; 41 Suppl 2:S41-S52. [PMID: 37951694 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a major global cause of neonatal meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia, with an estimated 91,000 infant deaths per year and an additional 46,000 stillbirths. GBS infection in pregnancy is also associated with adverse maternal outcomes and preterm births. As such, the World Health Organization (WHO) prioritised the development of a GBS vaccine suitable for use in pregnant women and use in LMICs, where the burden of disease is highest. Several GBS vaccines are in clinical development. The WHO Defeating Meningitis by 2030 has set a target of 2026 for vaccine licensure. This 'Vaccine Value Profile' (VVP) for GBS is intended to provide a high-level, holistic assessment of the information and data that are currently available to inform the potential public health, economic and societal value of pipeline vaccines and vaccine-like products. This VVP was developed by a working group of subject matter experts from academia, non-profit organizations, public private partnerships and multi-lateral organizations, and in collaboration with stakeholders from the WHO regions of AFR, AMR, EUR, WPR. All contributors have extensive expertise on various elements of the GBS VVP and collectively aimed to identify current research and knowledge gaps. The VVP was developed using only existing and publicly available information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline L Trotter
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
| | - Mark Alderson
- PATH, 2201 Westlake Avenue, Suite,200, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
| | - Ziyaad Dangor
- WITS VIDA Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, 30 Chris Hani Road, Diepkloof, Soweto, 1862 Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Margaret Ip
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
| | - Eve Nakabembe
- Makerere University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Simon R Procter
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Musa Sekikubo
- Makerere University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Philipp Lambach
- World Health Organization, Avenue Appia, Geneva CH-1211, Switzerland.
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Madhi SA, Anderson AS, Absalon J, Radley D, Simon R, Jongihlati B, Strehlau R, van Niekerk AM, Izu A, Naidoo N, Kwatra G, Ramsamy Y, Said M, Jones S, Jose L, Fairlie L, Barnabas SL, Newton R, Munson S, Jefferies Z, Pavliakova D, Silmon de Monerri NC, Gomme E, Perez JL, Scott DA, Gruber WC, Jansen KU. Potential for Maternally Administered Vaccine for Infant Group B Streptococcus. N Engl J Med 2023; 389:215-227. [PMID: 37467497 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2116045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural history studies have correlated serotype-specific anti-capsular polysaccharide (CPS) IgG in newborns with a reduced risk of group B streptococcal disease. A hexavalent CPS-cross-reactive material 197 glycoconjugate vaccine (GBS6) is being developed as a maternal vaccine to prevent invasive group B streptococcus in young infants. METHODS In an ongoing phase 2, placebo-controlled trial involving pregnant women, we assessed the safety and immunogenicity of a single dose of various GBS6 formulations and analyzed maternally transferred anti-CPS antibodies. In a parallel seroepidemiologic study that was conducted in the same population, we assessed serotype-specific anti-CPS IgG concentrations that were associated with a reduced risk of invasive disease among newborns through 89 days of age to define putative protective thresholds. RESULTS Naturally acquired anti-CPS IgG concentrations were associated with a reduced risk of disease among infants in the seroepidemiologic study. IgG thresholds that were determined to be associated with 75 to 95% reductions in the risk of disease were 0.184 to 0.827 μg per milliliter. No GBS6-associated safety signals were observed among the mothers or infants. The incidence of adverse events and of serious adverse events were similar across the trial groups for both mothers and infants; more local reactions were observed in the groups that received GBS6 containing aluminum phosphate. Among the infants, the most common serious adverse events were minor congenital anomalies (umbilical hernia and congenital dermal melanocytosis). GBS6 induced maternal antibody responses to all serotypes, with maternal-to-infant antibody ratios of approximately 0.4 to 1.3, depending on the dose. The percentage of infants with anti-CPS IgG concentrations above 0.184 μg per milliliter varied according to serotype and formulation, with 57 to 97% of the infants having a seroresponse to the most immunogenic formulation. CONCLUSIONS GBS6 elicited anti-CPS antibodies against group B streptococcus in pregnant women that were transferred to infants at levels associated with a reduced risk of invasive group B streptococcal disease. (Funded by Pfizer and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; C1091002 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03765073.).
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MESH Headings
- Female
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Pregnancy
- Antibodies, Bacterial
- Immunoglobulin G
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Streptococcal Infections/epidemiology
- Streptococcal Infections/immunology
- Streptococcal Infections/prevention & control
- Streptococcus agalactiae
- Vaccines, Combined/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Combined/adverse effects
- Vaccines, Combined/immunology
- Vaccines, Combined/therapeutic use
- Vaccines, Conjugate/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Conjugate/adverse effects
- Vaccines, Conjugate/immunology
- Vaccines, Conjugate/therapeutic use
- Streptococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Streptococcal Vaccines/adverse effects
- Streptococcal Vaccines/immunology
- Streptococcal Vaccines/therapeutic use
- Immunity, Maternally-Acquired/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabir A Madhi
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Annaliesa S Anderson
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Judith Absalon
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - David Radley
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Raphael Simon
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Babalwa Jongihlati
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Renate Strehlau
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Anika M van Niekerk
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Alane Izu
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Niree Naidoo
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Gaurav Kwatra
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Yogandree Ramsamy
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Mohamed Said
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Stephanie Jones
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Lisa Jose
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Lee Fairlie
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Shaun L Barnabas
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Ryan Newton
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Samantha Munson
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Zahra Jefferies
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Danka Pavliakova
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Natalie C Silmon de Monerri
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Emily Gomme
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - John L Perez
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Daniel A Scott
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - William C Gruber
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
| | - Kathrin U Jansen
- From the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (S.A.M., R. Strehlau, A.I., G.K., S.J., L.J.), the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (R. Strehlau), and Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (L.F.), Johannesburg, the Division of Neonatal Medicine, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town (A.M.N.), the Clinical Neonatology Unit, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (N.N.), and the Department of Medical Microbiology, National Health Laboratory Services, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Y.R.), Durban, the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria (M.S.), and the Family Center for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch (S.L.B.) - all in South Africa; and Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, NY (A.S.A., J.A., D.R., R. Simon, B.J., R.N., S.M., Z.J., D.P., N.C.S.M., E.G., J.L.P., D.A.S., W.C.G., K.U.J.)
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9
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Dangor Z, Seale AC, Baba V, Kwatra G. Early-onset group B streptococcal disease in African countries and maternal vaccination strategies. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1214844. [PMID: 37457277 PMCID: PMC10338870 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1214844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) disease is the commonest perinatally-acquired bacterial infection in newborns; the burden is higher in African countries where intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis strategies are not feasible. In sub-Saharan Africa, almost one in four newborns with GBS early-onset disease will demise, and one in ten survivors have moderate or severe neurodevelopmental impairment. A maternal GBS vaccine to prevent invasive GBS disease in infancy is a pragmatic and cost-effective preventative strategy for Africa. Hexavalent polysaccharide protein conjugate and Alpha family surface protein vaccines are undergoing phase II clinical trials. Vaccine licensure may be facilitated by demonstrating safety and immunological correlates/thresholds suggestive of protection against invasive GBS disease. This will then be followed by phase IV effectiveness studies to assess the burden of GBS vaccine preventable disease, including the effect on all-cause neonatal infections, neonatal deaths and stillbirths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyaad Dangor
- South African Medical Research Council, Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Anna C. Seale
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Vuyelwa Baba
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Gaurav Kwatra
- South African Medical Research Council, Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
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10
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Dangor Z, Kwatra G, Pawlowski A, Fisher PB, Izu A, Lala SG, Johansson-Lindbom B, Madhi SA. Association of infant Rib and Alp1 surface protein N-terminal domain immunoglobulin G and invasive Group B Streptococcal disease in young infants. Vaccine 2023; 41:1679-1683. [PMID: 36754766 PMCID: PMC9996286 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaccine development for Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a common cause of invasive disease in early-infancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes, include exploring widely-expressed GBS surface proteins as vaccine epitopes. We investigated the association between natural infant serum IgG against the RibN and Alp1N domains and risk of invasive GBS disease caused by isolates expressing these proteins. METHODS We analyzed maternal and infant serum samples from GBS disease cases and infants born to GBS-colonized women controls. Bayesian modelling was used to calculate the GBS homotypic IgG concentration associated with risk reduction of invasive disease in the infant. RESULTS PCR-based typing of 85 GBS invasive isolates showed 46 and 24 possessing the gene for Rib and Alp1, respectively. These were matched to 46 and 36 infant controls whose mothers were colonized with GBS expressing Rib and Alp1, respectively. RibN IgG geometric mean concentrations (GMC) were lower in cases than controls among infants (0.01; 95 %CI: 0.01-0.02 vs 0.04; 95 %CI: 0.03-0.06; p < 0.001), no significant difference was found between maternal RibN IgG GMC in cases compared to controls. Alp1N IgG GMC was also lower in infant cases (0.02; 95 %CI: 0.01-0.03) than controls (0.05; 95 %CI: 0.04-0.07; p < 0.001); albeit not so in mothers. An infant IgG threshold ≥ 0.428 and ≥ 0.112 µg/mL was associated with 90 % risk reduction of invasive GBS disease due to Rib and Alp1 expressing strains, respectively. DISCUSSION Lower serum RibN and Alp1N IgG GMC were evident in infants with invasive GBS disease compared with controls born to women colonized with GBS expressing the homotypic protein. These data support the evaluation of Alp family proteins as potential vaccine candidates against invasive GBS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyaad Dangor
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
| | - Gaurav Kwatra
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | | | | | - Alane Izu
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Sanjay G Lala
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Bengt Johansson-Lindbom
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; MinervaX ApS, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Shabir A Madhi
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
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11
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Lohrmann F, Hufnagel M, Kunze M, Afshar B, Creti R, Detcheva A, Kozakova J, Rodriguez-Granger J, Sørensen UBS, Margarit I, Maione D, Rinaudo D, Orefici G, Telford J, de la Rosa Fraile M, Kilian M, Efstratiou A, Berner R, Melin P. Neonatal invasive disease caused by Streptococcus agalactiae in Europe: the DEVANI multi-center study. Infection 2022:10.1007/s15010-022-01965-x. [PMID: 36547864 PMCID: PMC9773664 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01965-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Group B streptococcus (GBS) remains a leading cause of invasive disease, mainly sepsis and meningitis, in infants < 3 months of age and of mortality among neonates. This study, a major component of the European DEVANI project (Design of a Vaccine Against Neonatal Infections) describes clinical and important microbiological characteristics of neonatal GBS diseases. It quantifies the rate of antenatal screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis among cases and identifies risk factors associated with an adverse outcome. METHODS Clinical and microbiological data from 153 invasive neonatal cases (82 early-onset [EOD], 71 late-onset disease [LOD] cases) were collected in eight European countries from mid-2008 to end-2010. RESULTS Respiratory distress was the most frequent clinical sign at onset of EOD, while meningitis is found in > 30% of LOD. The study revealed that 59% of mothers of EOD cases had not received antenatal screening, whilst GBS was detected in 48.5% of screened cases. Meningitis was associated with an adverse outcome in LOD cases, while prematurity and the presence of cardiocirculatory symptoms were associated with an adverse outcome in EOD cases. Capsular-polysaccharide type III was the most frequent in both EOD and LOD cases with regional differences in the clonal complex distribution. CONCLUSIONS Standardizing recommendations related to neonatal GBS disease and increasing compliance might improve clinical care and the prevention of GBS EOD. But even full adherence to antenatal screening would miss a relevant number of EOD cases, thus, the most promising prophylactic approach against GBS EOD and LOD would be a vaccine for maternal immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florens Lohrmann
- grid.5963.9Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg and IMM-PACT Clinician Scientist Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Markus Hufnagel
- grid.5963.9Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mirjam Kunze
- grid.5963.9Department for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Baharak Afshar
- grid.515304.60000 0005 0421 4601UK Health Security Agency GB, London, UK
| | - Roberta Creti
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Antoaneta Detcheva
- grid.419273.a0000 0004 0469 0184National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Jana Kozakova
- grid.425485.a0000 0001 2184 1595National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Javier Rodriguez-Granger
- grid.411380.f0000 0000 8771 3783Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Hospital Universitario Virgen de Las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Uffe B. Skov Sørensen
- grid.7048.b0000 0001 1956 2722Department of Biomedicine, Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Graziella Orefici
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Manuel de la Rosa Fraile
- grid.411380.f0000 0000 8771 3783Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Hospital Universitario Virgen de Las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Mogens Kilian
- grid.7048.b0000 0001 1956 2722Department of Biomedicine, Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Reinhard Berner
- grid.4488.00000 0001 2111 7257Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pierrette Melin
- grid.411374.40000 0000 8607 6858Department of Clinical Microbiology, National Reference Center Streptococcus agalactiae, University Hospital Center of Liege, Avenue de L’Hôpital, 1, 4000 Liège 1, Belgique
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12
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Molecular Epidemiology of Group B Streptococcus Colonization in Egyptian Women. Microorganisms 2022; 11:microorganisms11010038. [PMID: 36677330 PMCID: PMC9861799 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes severe neonatal infections with a high burden of disease, especially in Africa. Maternal vaginal colonization and perinatal transmissions represent the common mode of acquiring the infection. Development of an effective maternal vaccine against GBS relies on molecular surveillance of the maternal GBS population to better understand the global distribution of GBS clones and serotypes. (2) Methods: Here, we present genomic data from a collection of colonizing GBS strains from Ismailia, Egypt that were sequenced and characterized within the global JUNO project. (3) Results: A large proportion of serotype VI, ST14 strains was discovered, a serotype which is rarely found in strain collections from the US and Europe and typically not included in the current vaccine formulations. (4) Conclusions: The molecular epidemiology of these strains clearly points to the African origin with the detection of several sequence types (STs) that have only been observed in Africa. Our data underline the importance of continuous molecular surveillance of the GBS population for future vaccine implementations.
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13
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Gilbert PB, Isbrucker R, Andrews N, Goldblatt D, Heath PT, Izu A, Madhi SA, Moulton L, Schrag SJ, Shang N, Siber G, Sobanjo-Ter Meulen A. Methodology for a correlate of protection for group B Streptococcus: Report from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation workshop held on 10 and 11 February 2021. Vaccine 2022; 40:4283-4291. [PMID: 35779963 PMCID: PMC11299424 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.05.016] [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: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, childhood mortality has declined significantly, with improvements in hygiene and vaccinations against common childhood illnesses, yet newborn mortality remains high. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease significantly contributes to newborn mortality and is the leading cause of meningitis in infants. Many years of research have demonstrated the potential for maternal vaccination against GBS to confer protection to the infant, and at least three vaccine candidates are currently undergoing clinical trials. Given the relatively low disease incidence, any clinical vaccine efficacy study would need to include at least 40,000 to 60,000 participants. Therefore, a path to vaccine licensure based on a correlate of protection (CoP) would be the preferred route, with post-approval effectiveness studies demonstrating vaccine impact on reduction of disease burden likely to be required as part of conditional marketing approval. This workshop, hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on 10 and 11 February 2021, discussed considerations and potential statistical methodologies for establishing a CoP for GBS disease. Consensus was reached that an antibody marker with global threshold predictive of a high level of vaccine protection would be most beneficial for licensure assessments. IgG binding antibody in cord blood would likely serve as the CoP, with additional studies needed to confirm a high correlation with functional antibody and to demonstrate comparable kinetics of natural versus vaccine-induced antibody. Common analyses of ongoing seroepidemiological studies include estimation of absolute and relative disease risk as a function of infant antibody concentration, with adjustment for confounders of the impact of antibody concentration on infant GBS disease including gestational age and maternal age. Estimation of an antibody concentration threshold indicative of high protection should build in margin for uncertainties from sources including unmeasured confounders, imperfect causal mediation, and variability in point and confidence interval estimates across regions and/or serotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter B Gilbert
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease and Public Health Sciences Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, USA
| | | | - Nick Andrews
- UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, UK
| | - David Goldblatt
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paul T Heath
- Vaccine Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Alane Izu
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Shabir A Madhi
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lawrence Moulton
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephanie J Schrag
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nong Shang
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
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14
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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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15
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Etti M, Calvert A, Galiza E, Lim S, Khalil A, Le Doare K, Heath PT. Maternal vaccination: a review of current evidence and recommendations. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 226:459-474. [PMID: 34774821 PMCID: PMC8582099 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Maternal vaccination is an effective means of protecting pregnant women, their fetuses, and infants from vaccine-preventable infections. Despite the availability of sufficient safety data to support the use of vaccines during pregnancy, maternal immunization remains an underutilized method of disease prevention, often because of concerns from both healthcare providers and pregnant women about vaccine safety. Such concerns have been reflected in the low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant women seen in many parts of the world. Here, we present an update of the current recommendations for the use of vaccines during pregnancy, including the evidence supporting the use of novel vaccine platforms. We also provide an overview of the data supporting the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy and an update of the status of vaccines that are currently under development for use in pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Etti
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Anna Calvert
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Galiza
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Suzy Lim
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Asma Khalil
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul T Heath
- Vaccine Institute and Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
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16
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Izu A, Kwatra G, Madhi SA, Rigat F. Estimation of invasive Group B Streptococcus disease risk in young infants from case-control serological studies. BMC Med Res Methodol 2022; 22:85. [PMID: 35350991 PMCID: PMC8961496 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-022-01529-5] [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: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections are a major cause of invasive disease (IGbsD) in young infants and cause miscarriage and stillbirths. Immunization of pregnant women against GBS in addition to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis could prevent disease. Establishing accurate serological markers of protection against IGbsD could enable use of efficient clinical trial designs for vaccine development and licensure, without needing to undertake efficacy trials in prohibitively large number of mother-infant dyads. The association of maternal naturally acquired serotype-specific anti-capsular antibodies (IgG) against serotype-specific IGbsD in their infants has been studied in case-control studies. The statistical models used so far to estimate IGbsD risk from these case-control studies assumed that the antibody concentrations measured sharing the same disease status are sampled from the same population, not allowing for differences between mothers colonised by GBS and mothers also potentially infected (e.g urinary tract infection or chorioamnionitis) by GBS during pregnancy. This distinction is relevant as infants born from infected mothers with occult medical illness may be exposed to GBS prior to the mother developing antibodies measured in maternal or infant sera. Methods Unsupervised mixture model averaging (MMA) is proposed and applied here to accurately estimate infant IGbsD risk from case-control study data in presence or absence of antibody concentration subgroups potentially associated to maternal GBS carriage or infection. MMA estimators are compared to non-parametric disease risk estimators in simulation studies and by analysis of two published GBS case-control studies. Results MMA provides more accurate relative risk estimates under a broad range of data simulation scenarios and more accurate absolute disease risk estimates when the proportion of IGbsD cases with high antibody levels is not ignorable. MMA estimates of the relative and absolute disease risk curves are more amenable to clinical interpretation compared to non-parametric estimates with no detectable overfitting of the data. Antibody concentration thresholds predictive of protection from infant IGbsD estimated by MMA from maternal and infant sera are consistent with non-parametric estimates. Conclusions MMA is a flexible and robust method for design, accurate analysis and clinical interpretation of case-control studies estimating relative and absolute IGbsD risk from antibody concentrations measured at or after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alane Izu
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytical Research Unit (VIDA), University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Science, Johannesburg, South Africa. .,Department of Science and Innovation/National Research Foundation South African Research Chair Initiative in Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Science, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Gaurav Kwatra
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytical Research Unit (VIDA), University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Science, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Science and Innovation/National Research Foundation South African Research Chair Initiative in Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Science, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Shabir A Madhi
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytical Research Unit (VIDA), University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Science, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Science and Innovation/National Research Foundation South African Research Chair Initiative in Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Science, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Fabio Rigat
- Statistics and Decision Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceuticals R & D, High Wycombe, United Kingdom.
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17
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Dominguez K, Randis TM. Toward the development of a protein-based group B Streptococcus vaccine. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100536. [PMID: 35243427 PMCID: PMC8861943 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Clinical trials of protein-based vaccines to prevent Group B streptococcal infections are underway. In this issue of Cell Reports Medicine, Pawlowski et al.1 provide an extensive characterization of the immune response generated by the recently tested GBS-NN vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Dominguez
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida; Morsani School of Medicine
| | - Tara M. Randis
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida; Morsani School of Medicine
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida; Morsani School of Medicine
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18
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Pawlowski A, Lannergård J, Gonzalez-Miro M, Cao D, Larsson S, Persson JJ, Kitson G, Darsley M, Rom AL, Hedegaard M, Fischer PB, Johansson-Lindbom B. A group B Streptococcus alpha-like protein subunit vaccine induces functionally active antibodies in humans targeting homotypic and heterotypic strains. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100511. [PMID: 35243418 PMCID: PMC8861819 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternal vaccination is a promising strategy for preventing neonatal disease caused by group B Streptococcus. The safety and immunogenicity of the prototype vaccine GBS-NN, a fusion protein consisting of the N-terminal domains of the alpha-like proteins (Alp) αC and Rib, were recently evaluated favorably in healthy adult women in a phase 1 trial. Here we demonstrate robust immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses against αC and Rib, as well as against the heterotypic Alp family members Alp1–Alp3. IgA and heterotypic IgG responses are more variable between subjects and correlate with pre-existing immunity. Vaccine-induced IgG mediates opsonophagocytic killing and prevents bacterial invasion of epithelial cells. Like the vaccine-induced response, naturally acquired IgG against the vaccine domains is dominated by IgG1. Consistent with the high IgG1 cross-placental transfer rate, naturally acquired IgG against both domains reaches higher concentrations in neonatal than maternal blood, as assessed in a separate group of non-vaccinated pregnant women and their babies. GBS-NN subunit vaccine broadly elicits IgG1 to homotypic αC and Rib N-terminal domains IgA and heterotypic IgG responses occur in vaccinees with pre-existing immunity Abs mediate opsonophagocytic killing and prevent bacterial epithelial cell invasion IgG against αC-N and Rib-N is transferred efficiently across the placenta
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonas Lannergård
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Duojia Cao
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sara Larsson
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jenny J Persson
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Geoff Kitson
- Minervax A/S, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | | | - Ane Lilleøre Rom
- Department of Obstetrics, the Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.,The Research Unit for Women's and Children's Health, the Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Hedegaard
- Department of Obstetrics, the Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Per B Fischer
- Minervax A/S, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Bengt Johansson-Lindbom
- Immunology Section, BMC D14, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden.,Minervax A/S, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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19
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Shabayek S, Ferrieri P, Spellerberg B. Group B Streptococcal Colonization in African Countries: Prevalence, Capsular Serotypes, and Molecular Sequence Types. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121606. [PMID: 34959562 PMCID: PMC8706430 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae or group B streptococcus (GBS) is a commensal of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of healthy women and an important cause of neonatal invasive infections worldwide. Transmission of bacteria to the newborn occurs at birth and can be prevented by intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. However, this not available in resource limited settings in Africa, which carries a particular high burden of disease. Serotype based vaccines are in development and present a suitable alternative to prevent neonatal infections. To be able to assess vaccine efficacy, knowledge and surveillance of GBS epidemiological data are required. This review summarizes investigations about the serotype distribution and the multi-locus sequence types (MLST) found in different African countries. While most serotypes and MLST data are comparable to findings from other continents, some specific differences exist. Serotype V is predominant among colonizing maternal strains in many different African countries. Serotypes that are rarely detected in western industrialized nations, such as serotypes VI, VII and IX, are prevalent in studies from Ghana and Egypt. Moreover, some specific MLST sequence types that seem to be more or less unique to Africa have been detected. However, overall, the data confirm that a hexavalent vaccine can provide broad coverage for the African continent and that a protein vaccine could represent a promising alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Shabayek
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt;
| | - Patricia Ferrieri
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Barbara Spellerberg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Correspondence:
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20
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Dangor Z, Kwatra G, Izu A, Khan M, Lala SG, Madhi SA. Infant serotype specific anti-capsular immunoglobulin G antibody and risk of invasive group B Streptococcal disease. Vaccine 2021; 39:6813-6816. [PMID: 34688499 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Past studies have mainly investigated the association of serotype-specific capsular IgG in the mother and risk reduction of invasive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in their young infants. The efficiency of transplacental transfer of IgG could be affected by multiple maternal factors. Hence, investigation of infant serum GBS anti-capsular IgG and risk reduction for invasive GBS disease may be more robust and generalizable. In a matched case-control study, infant serum serotype-specific capsular polysaccharide Ia and III IgG concentrations were analyzed in infants with invasive GBS cases and healthy controls born to women with recto-vaginal colonization by the homotypic serotype. Using Bayesian modeling, an antibody concentration of 2.5 µg/mL and 1 µg/mL predicted a 90% reduced risk of invasive disease for serotype Ia and III, respectively. These data contribute to the possible licensure of a GBS polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine, targeted at pregnant women, based on serological correlates of protection against invasive GBS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyaad Dangor
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
| | - Gaurav Kwatra
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Alane Izu
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Mahtaab Khan
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Sanjay G Lala
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Shabir A Madhi
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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21
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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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22
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Berardi A, Spada C, Creti R, Auriti C, Gambini L, Rizzo V, Capretti M, Laforgia N, Papa I, Tarocco A, Lanzoni A, Biasucci G, Piccinini G, Nardella G, Latorre G, Merazzi D, Travan L, Reggiani MLB, Baroni L, Ciccia M, Lucaccioni L, Iughetti L, Lugli L. Maternal Carriage in Late-Onset Group B Streptococcus Disease, Italy. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:2279-2287. [PMID: 34423765 PMCID: PMC8386770 DOI: 10.3201/eid2709.210049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
At the time of late-onset disease, mothers often have positive breast milk culture or group B Streptococcus bacteriuria, suggesting heavy maternal colonization. We retrospectively investigated mother-to-infant transmission of group B Streptococcus (GBS) in 98 cases of late-onset disease reported during 2007–2018 by a network in Italy. Mothers with full assessment of vaginal/rectal carriage tested at prenatal screening and at time of late onset (ATLO) were included. Thirty-three mothers (33.7%) were never GBS colonized; 65 (66.3%) were vaginal/rectal colonized, of which 36 (36.7%) were persistently colonized. Mothers with vaginal/rectal colonization ATLO had high rates of GBS bacteriuria (33.9%) and positive breast milk culture (27.5%). GBS strains from mother–infant pairs were serotype III and possessed the surface protein antigen Rib. All but 1 strain belonged to clonal complex 17. GBS strains from 4 mother–infant pairs were indistinguishable through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. At least two thirds of late-onset cases are transmitted from mothers, who often have vaginal/rectal carriage, positive breast milk culture, or GBS bacteriuria, which suggests heavy maternal colonization.
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23
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Safety and immunogenicity of a prototype recombinant alpha-like protein subunit vaccine (GBS-NN) against Group B Streptococcus in a randomised placebo-controlled double-blind phase 1 trial in healthy adult women. Vaccine 2021; 39:4489-4499. [PMID: 34215454 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of life-threatening infections in new-borns and may cause invasive disease, stillbirth and preterm delivery during pregnancy. While no licensed vaccine exists, maternal immunization might protect against neonatal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of a prototype vaccine consisting of the fused N-terminal domains of the AlphaC and Rib surface proteins of GBS (GBS-NN). METHODS GBS-NN was tested in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, phase I study, in healthy non-pregnant women. A dose-escalation phase, with two doses, four weeks apart, of 10, 50 or 250 µg, administered with or without aluminium hydroxide, was initially assessed (n = 60). This was followed by a dose-confirmation study, where one dose of 100 µg adjuvanted GBS-NN was compared with two doses of either 50 or 100 µg adjuvanted GBS-NN, again administered with four weeks interval between the doses (n = 180). Safety and immunogenicity were monitored for one year. RESULTS GBS-NN was well tolerated with some, mostly mild, injection site reactions observed. Adjuvant significantly increased antibody concentrations and the response was boosted by a second dose. The IgG GMCs remained strongly elevated during the whole one-year duration of the study. Maximal responses occurred after two 50 µg doses, resulting in IgG GMC of 16.9 µg/ml at the primary immunological endpoint, twelve weeks after the first dose. For this regimen, 100% and 89% of the subjects achieved antibody levels above the arbitrary thresholds of 1 and 4 µg/ml, respectively. The added beneficial effect of a second dose was most pronounced for subjects with pre-existing IgG levels below the median of the entire cohort. CONCLUSION The prototype GBS-NN vaccine was found to be well tolerated and highly immunogenic with an optimal regimen of two doses of 50 µg in the presence of adjuvant. Further development of a maternal vaccine based on the N-terminal domains of the alpha-like protein family of GBS is warranted (NCT02459262).
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24
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Yuan XY, Liu HZ, Liu JF, Sun Y, Song Y. Pathogenic mechanism, detection methods and clinical significance of group B Streptococcus. Future Microbiol 2021; 16:671-685. [PMID: 34098731 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the main pathogen of perinatal infection. It can lead to adverse pregnancy, maternal infection, premature delivery, abortion, stillbirth and a series of adverse maternal and infant outcomes such as neonatal sepsis, meningitis or pneumonia during delivery. In order to reduce the infection of perinatal pregnant and the adverse pregnancy outcome, more attention should be paid in the clinical practice, screening efforts, universal detection of GBS infection for pregnant women and preventive treatment for the possible mother infant infection. In this study, the biological characteristics, immunophenotype, major pathogenic mechanism, laboratory test methods and clinical significance of GBS are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan Yuan
- Department of Central Lab, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China
| | - Hai-Zhu Liu
- Department of Central Lab, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China
| | - Jia-Fei Liu
- Department of Central Lab, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China.,Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, PR China
| | - Yong Sun
- Department of Clinical Lab, Yantai Laiyang Central Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, 264200, PR China
| | - Yu Song
- Department of Central Lab, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China
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25
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Development and Validation of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Group B Streptococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9060545. [PMID: 34064299 PMCID: PMC8224333 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9060545] [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: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus, GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in infants. Limitations of prenatal GBS screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis render developing GBS vaccines a high priority. In this study, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the practical and large-scale evaluation of GBS capsular polysaccharide (PS) vaccine immunogenicity against three main serotypes, Ia, III, and V. GBS-ELISA was developed and subsequently validated using a standardized curve-fitting four-parameter logistic method. Specificity was measured using adsorption of serum with homologous and heterologous PS. Homologous adsorption showed a ≥75% inhibition of all three serotypes, whereas with heterologous PS, IgG GBS-ELISA inhibited only ≤25% of serotypes III and V. However, with serotype Ia, IgG antibody levels decreased by >50%, even after adsorption with heterologous PS (III or V). In comparison, the inhibition opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPA) of serotypes Ia GBS exhibited a reduction in opsonophagocytic activity of only 20% and 1.1% for serotypes III and V GBS, respectively. The precision of the GBS-ELISA was assessed in five independent experiments using four serum samples. The coefficient of variation was <5% for all three serotypes. This standardized GBS-ELISA would be useful for GBS vaccine development and its evaluation.
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26
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Alderson MR, Welsch JA, Regan K, Newhouse L, Bhat N, Marfin AA. Vaccines to Prevent Meningitis: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9040771. [PMID: 33917003 PMCID: PMC8067733 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in the development and introduction of vaccines against the major bacterial causes of meningitis, the disease and its long-term after-effects remain a problem globally. The Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030 aims to accelerate progress through visionary and strategic goals that place a major emphasis on preventing meningitis via vaccination. Global vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is the most advanced, such that successful and low-cost combination vaccines incorporating Hib are broadly available. More affordable pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are becoming increasingly available, although countries ineligible for donor support still face access challenges and global serotype coverage is incomplete with existing licensed vaccines. Meningococcal disease control in Africa has progressed with the successful deployment of a low-cost serogroup A conjugate vaccine, but other serogroups still cause outbreaks in regions of the world where broadly protective and affordable vaccines have not been introduced into routine immunization programs. Progress has lagged for prevention of neonatal meningitis and although maternal vaccination against the leading cause, group B streptococcus (GBS), has progressed into clinical trials, no GBS vaccine has thus far reached Phase 3 evaluation. This article examines current and future efforts to control meningitis through vaccination.
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27
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Edwards MS, Baker CJ. Group B Streptococcal Disease: Interim Prevention at 50 Years and Counting. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 70:2580-2581. [PMID: 31394571 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Morven S Edwards
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Carol J Baker
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
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28
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Singh T, Otero CE, Li K, Valencia SM, Nelson AN, Permar SR. Vaccines for Perinatal and Congenital Infections-How Close Are We? Front Pediatr 2020; 8:569. [PMID: 33384972 PMCID: PMC7769834 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital and perinatal infections are transmitted from mother to infant during pregnancy across the placenta or during delivery. These infections not only cause pregnancy complications and still birth, but also result in an array of pediatric morbidities caused by physical deformities, neurodevelopmental delays, and impaired vision, mobility and hearing. Due to the burden of these conditions, congenital and perinatal infections may result in lifelong disability and profoundly impact an individual's ability to live to their fullest capacity. While there are vaccines to prevent congenital and perinatal rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B infections, many more are currently in development at various stages of progress. The spectrum of our efforts to understand and address these infections includes observational studies of natural history of disease, epidemiological evaluation of risk factors, immunogen design, preclinical research of protective immunity in animal models, and evaluation of promising candidates in vaccine trials. In this review we summarize this progress in vaccine development research for Cytomegalovirus, Group B Streptococcus, Herpes simplex virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Toxoplasma, Syphilis, and Zika virus congenital and perinatal infections. We then synthesize this evidence to examine how close we are to developing a vaccine for these infections, and highlight areas where research is still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tulika Singh
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Claire E. Otero
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Katherine Li
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sarah M. Valencia
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ashley N. Nelson
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sallie R. Permar
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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Kyohere M, Davies HG, Musoke P, Nakimuli A, Tusubira V, Tasimwa HB, Nsimire JS, Heath P, Cose S, Baker C, Le Doare K, Sekikubo M. Seroepidemiology of maternally-derived antibody against Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in Mulago/Kawempe Hospitals Uganda - PROGRESS GBS. Gates Open Res 2020; 4:155. [PMID: 33299966 PMCID: PMC7706450 DOI: 10.12688/gatesopenres.13183.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Group B
Streptococcus (GBS) is a major contributor to the high burden of neonatal and young infant infectious disease in resource- limited settings. As disease protection during the first six months of life is provided via placental transfer of maternal antibodies, a maternal GBS vaccine may provide an effective strategy to reduce infectious death and disability. An efficacy study may be difficult because of the large sample size required and alternative approaches such as serocorrelates of protection based on natural antibody concentration are being considered. Such studies would need to be undertaken in high burden settings such as Uganda. We therefore aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a GBS sero-epidemiology study in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: This is a prospective cohort and nested case-control study, conducted across two-centres with two entry points. A) consecutive women and their infants at birth, with collection of maternal swab, cord and maternal blood, and follow up by telephone until the infant is 3 months old; B) any infant under 3 months of age, presenting with signs of sepsis to any of the paediatric units, with collection of blood culture, cerebrospinal fluid and nasopharyngeal swabs. Any infants identified as having GBS disease (defined as GBS isolated from a normally sterile site) will be recruited and followed up for two years to assess their neurodevelopment. A nested qualitative study will investigate stakeholder (pregnant women and their families, healthcare workers and community leaders) opinions of sampling for such a study and understanding and potential uptake of vaccines in pregnancy. Discussion: The primary aim is to determine anti-GBS antibody concentration in infants with GBS disease compared to healthy controls. Secondary outcomes include stillbirth and all-cause infection and acceptance of sample methods and vaccination. The findings will inform scalability and sustainability of the programme in Uganda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Kyohere
- Makerere University - Johns Hopkins University (MUJHU) Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Hannah Georgia Davies
- Paediatric Infection and Immunology Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, SW170RE, UK
| | - Philippa Musoke
- Makerere University - Johns Hopkins University (MUJHU) Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, 256, Uganda
| | - Annettee Nakimuli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, 256, Uganda
| | - Valerie Tusubira
- Makerere University - Johns Hopkins University (MUJHU) Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Hannington Baluku Tasimwa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, 256, Uganda
| | | | - Paul Heath
- Paediatric Infection and Immunology Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, SW170RE, UK
| | - Stephen Cose
- Immunology and Vaccines Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Carol Baker
- University of Texas Health Science Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Paediatric Infection and Immunology Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, SW170RE, UK.,Immunology and Vaccines Research Unit, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Musa Sekikubo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, 256, Uganda
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Berardi A, Cassetti T, Creti R, Vocale C, Ambretti S, Sarti M, Facchinetti F, Cose S, Heath P, Le Doare K. The Italian arm of the PREPARE study: an international project to evaluate and license a maternal vaccine against group B streptococcus. Ital J Pediatr 2020; 46:160. [PMID: 33115542 PMCID: PMC7594470 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-020-00923-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis in infants, with long term neurodevelopmental sequelae. GBS may be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and preterm birth. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is currently the only way to prevent early-onset disease (presenting at 0 to 6 days of life), although it has no impact on the disease presenting over 6 days of life and its implementation is challenging in resource poor countries. A maternal vaccine against GBS could reduce all GBS manifestations as well as improve pregnancy outcomes, even in low-income countries. Main body The term “PREPARE” designates an international project aimed at developing a maternal vaccination platform to test vaccines against neonatal GBS infections by maternal immunization. It is a non-profit, multi-center, interventional and experimental study (promoted by the St George University of London. [UK]) with the aim of developing a maternal vaccination platform, determining pregnancy outcomes, and defining the extent of GBS infections in children and mothers in Africa. PREPARE also aims to estimate the protective serocorrelates against the main GBS serotypes that cause diseases in Europe and Africa and to conduct two trials on candidate GBS vaccines. PREPARE consists of 6 work packages. In four European countries (Italy, UK, Netherlands, France) the recruitment of cases and controls will start in 2020 and will end in 2022. The Italian PREPARE network includes 41 centers. The Italian network aims to collect: GBS isolates from infants with invasive disease, maternal and neonatal sera (cases); cord sera and GBS strains from colonized mothers whose infants do not develop GBS infection (controls). Short conclusion PREPARE will contribute information on protective serocorrelates against the main GBS serotypes that cause diseases in Europe and Africa. The vaccine that will be tested by the PREPARE study could be an effective strategy to prevent GBS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Berardi
- Unità Operativa di Terapia Intensiva Neonatale, Dipartimento Integrato Materno-Infantile, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy.
| | - Tiziana Cassetti
- Unità Operativa di Microbiologia Clinica, Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria Policlinico, Modena, Italy
| | - Roberta Creti
- Reparto di Antibiotico Resistenza e Patogeni Speciali (AR-PS), Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Vocale
- Unità Operativa di Microbiologia Clinica, Centro di Riferimento Regionale per le Emergenze Microbiologiche, (CRREM), Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Simone Ambretti
- Unità Operativa di Microbiologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mario Sarti
- Unità Operativa di Microbiologia Clinica, Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria Policlinico, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Facchinetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Mother, Child and Adult, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico, Modena, Italy
| | - Stephen Cose
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.,Department of Clinical Research, LSHTM, London, UK
| | | | - Paul Heath
- St George's Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George's University of London, London, UK
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Kyohere M, Davies HG, Musoke P, Nakimuli A, Tusubira V, Tasimwa HB, Nsimire JS, Heath P, Cose S, Baker C, Le Doare K, Sekikubo M. Seroepidemiology of maternally-derived antibody against Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in Mulago/Kawempe Hospitals Uganda - PROGRESS GBS. Gates Open Res 2020; 4:155. [DOI: 10.12688/gatesopenres.13183.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major contributor to the high burden of neonatal and young infant infectious disease in resource- limited settings. As disease protection during the first six months of life is provided via placental transfer of maternal antibodies, a maternal GBS vaccine may provide an effective strategy to reduce infectious death and disability. An efficacy study may be difficult because of the large sample size required and alternative approaches such as serocorrelates of protection based on natural antibody concentration are being considered. Such studies would need to be undertaken in high burden settings such as Uganda. We therefore aim to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a GBS sero-epidemiology study in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: This is a prospective cohort and nested case-control study, conducted across two-centres with two entry points. A) consecutive women and their infants at birth, with collection of maternal swab, cord and maternal blood, and follow up by telephone until the infant is 3 months old; B) any infant under 3 months of age, presenting with signs of sepsis to any of the paediatric units, with collection of blood culture, cerebrospinal fluid and nasopharyngeal swabs. Any infants identified as having GBS disease (defined as GBS isolated from a normally sterile site) will be recruited and followed up for two years to assess their neurodevelopment. A nested qualitative study will investigate stakeholder (pregnant women and their families, healthcare workers and community leaders) opinions of sampling for such a study and understanding and potential uptake of vaccines in pregnancy. Discussion: The primary aim is to determine anti-GBS antibody concentration in infants with GBS disease compared to healthy controls. Secondary outcomes include stillbirth and all-cause infection and acceptance of sample methods and vaccination. The findings will inform scalability and sustainability of the programme in Uganda.
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Berner R. Group B streptococcus vaccines: one step further. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020; 21:158-160. [PMID: 32891192 PMCID: PMC7470735 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30451-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Reinhard Berner
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany.
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Steer PJ, Russell AB, Kochhar S, Cox P, Plumb J, Gopal Rao G. Group B streptococcal disease in the mother and newborn-A review. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020; 252:526-533. [PMID: 32586597 PMCID: PMC7295463 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus, a common commensal in the gut of humans and in the lower genital tract in women, remains an important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. The incidence of early onset disease has fallen markedly in countries that test women for carriage at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy and then offer intrapartum prophylaxis with penicillin during labour. Countries that do not test, but instead employ a risk factor approach, have not seen a similar fall. There are concerns about the effect on the neonatal microbiome of widespread use of antibiotic prophylaxis during labour, but so far the effects seem minor and temporary. Vaccination against GBS would be acceptable to most women and GBS vaccines are in the early stages of development. Tweetable abstract: Group B Strep is a key cause of infection, death and disability in young babies. Antibiotics given in labour remain the mainstay of prevention, until a vaccine is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Steer
- Imperial College London, Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Sonali Kochhar
- Global Healthcare Consulting, India; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Philippa Cox
- Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Plumb
- Group B Strep Support, Haywards Heath, RH16 1UA, United Kingdom
| | - Gopal Gopal Rao
- London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, Harrow, United Kingdom
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Swamy GK, Metz TD, Edwards KM, Soper DE, Beigi RH, Campbell JD, Grassano L, Buffi G, Dreisbach A, Margarit I, Karsten A, Henry O, Lattanzi M, Bebia Z. Safety and immunogenicity of an investigational maternal trivalent group B streptococcus vaccine in pregnant women and their infants: Results from a randomized placebo-controlled phase II trial. Vaccine 2020; 38:6930-6940. [PMID: 32883555 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.08.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of an investigational trivalent group B streptococcus (GBS) vaccine in US pregnant women, transplacental serotype-specific antibody transfer and persistence in infants, and serotype-specific antibodies in breast milk. METHODS This randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled trial administered one dose of trivalent GBS vaccine (n = 49) or placebo (n = 26) to healthy pregnant 18-40-year-old women at 240/7-346/7 weeks' gestation. Women were enrolled from March 2014 to August 2015. Safety follow-up continued through postpartum day 180. Primary immunogenicity objectives were to evaluate serotype Ia/Ib/III-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in sera from women on day 1 (pre-vaccination), day 31, delivery and postpartum days 42 and 90, and from infants at birth (cord blood), days 42 and 90. Antibody transfer ratios (cord blood/maternal sera at delivery) and serotype-specific secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and IgG in breast milk after delivery and on postpartum days 42 and 90 were evaluated. The planned sample size was not based on statistical assumptions for this descriptive study. RESULTS Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Serious adverse events were reported for 16% of GBS-vaccinated women and 15% of their infants, and 15% of placebo recipients and 12% of their infants; none were fatal or deemed vaccine-related. Serotype-specific IgG geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) were 13-23-fold higher in vaccine vs placebo recipients on day 31 and persisted until postpartum day 90. Median antibody concentrations were substantially higher in women with detectable pre-vaccination antibody concentrations. Antibody transfer ratios in the vaccine group were 0.62-0.82. Infant IgG GMCs and breast milk sIgA GMCs were higher in the vaccine vs the placebo group at all timepoints. CONCLUSIONS Maternal immunization with the trivalent GBS vaccine in US women had a favorable safety profile, elicited antibodies that were transplacentally transferred and persisted in infants for a minimum of 3 months. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02046148.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geeta K Swamy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Torri D Metz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Kathryn M Edwards
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - David E Soper
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Richard H Beigi
- UPMC Magee-Women's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - James D Campbell
- Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Crespo-Ortiz MDP, Burbano ME, Barreto M. Pathogenesis and in vivo interactions of human Streptococcus agalactiae isolates in the Galleria mellonella invertebrate model. Microb Pathog 2020; 147:104400. [PMID: 32736013 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a gram positive bacterium colonizing the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts in humans. However under certain conditions GBS invades leading to severe infections in neonates, pregnant women, immunocompromised patients and the elderly people. The precise mechanisms involved in the transition from colonizer to pathogen remain to be elucidated, however it has been suggested that environmental determinants may regulate gene expression resulting in GBS invasion. We have assessed the potential of the moth Galleria mellonella as a model to study the in vivo virulence and GBS interactions of invasive and noninvasive human isolates from our population. Temperature, pH and bacterial competition effects were examined in the model as well as the response of Galleria hemocytes to GBS infection. GBS strains were able to effectively grow and infect G. mellonella in a dose dependent manner with a (half-lethal dose) LD50 1 × 107 CFU after 24 h. GBS infection induced larva melanization with hemocyte vacuolation and depletion. Larval killing increased with environmental conditions such as temperature (37 °C) and pH (≥5.5-7.2). Bacterial interference assays showed a remarkable antagonistic effect of Lactobacillus gasseri (cells and filtrates) on GBS infection and significantly improved Galleria survival. The protective effect of L. gasseri was observed even at ratios similar to those of GBS colonization suggesting that L. gasseri modulation by its metabolic products is relevant. Exposure to L. gasseri acidic filtrates induced growth inhibition and prevented larva killing after infection with the hypervirulent GBS clone (a multiresistant clinical ST 17 strain). We showed that mechanisms mediating these effects are mainly pH dependent, however other mechanisms may have a role depending on inocula. We also found that G. mellonella infected with invasive human GBS isolates showed differential killing curves with higher killing rates after 24 h when compared to those considered colonizers or noninvasive isolates. Overall it has been shown that G. mellonella may be a representative in vivo model for baseline GBS studies. Given the potential effects over the hypervirulent strain, our findings support the use of L. gasseri in the GBS control strategies based on Lactobacillus formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Del Pilar Crespo-Ortiz
- Department of Microbiology, University del Valle, San Fernando Campus, Calle 4 B #36-00, Cali, 760043, Colombia.
| | - Maria Elena Burbano
- Department of Microbiology, University del Valle, San Fernando Campus, Calle 4 B #36-00, Cali, 760043, Colombia.
| | - Mauricio Barreto
- Department of Microbiology, University del Valle, San Fernando Campus, Calle 4 B #36-00, Cali, 760043, Colombia.
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Abu-Raya B, Maertens K, Edwards KM, Omer SB, Englund JA, Flanagan KL, Snape MD, Amirthalingam G, Leuridan E, Damme PV, Papaevangelou V, Launay O, Dagan R, Campins M, Cavaliere AF, Frusca T, Guidi S, O'Ryan M, Heininger U, Tan T, Alsuwaidi AR, Safadi MA, Vilca LM, Wanlapakorn N, Madhi SA, Giles ML, Prymula R, Ladhani S, Martinón-Torres F, Tan L, Michelin L, Scambia G, Principi N, Esposito S. Global Perspectives on Immunization During Pregnancy and Priorities for Future Research and Development: An International Consensus Statement. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1282. [PMID: 32670282 PMCID: PMC7326941 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunization during pregnancy has been recommended in an increasing number of countries. The aim of this strategy is to protect pregnant women and infants from severe infectious disease, morbidity and mortality and is currently limited to tetanus, inactivated influenza, and pertussis-containing vaccines. There have been recent advancements in the development of vaccines designed primarily for use in pregnant women (respiratory syncytial virus and group B Streptococcus vaccines). Although there is increasing evidence to support vaccination in pregnancy, important gaps in knowledge still exist and need to be addressed by future studies. This collaborative consensus paper provides a review of the current literature on immunization during pregnancy and highlights the gaps in knowledge and a consensus of priorities for future research initiatives, in order to optimize protection for both the mother and the infant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahaa Abu-Raya
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kirsten Maertens
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kathryn M. Edwards
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Saad B. Omer
- Department of Internal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Janet A. Englund
- Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Katie L. Flanagan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, Australia
- School of Health and Biomedical Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthew D. Snape
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gayatri Amirthalingam
- Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elke Leuridan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pierre Van Damme
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vana Papaevangelou
- Third Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital ATTIKON, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Odile Launay
- Université de Paris, Inserm, CIC 1417, F-CRIN I REIVAC, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Ron Dagan
- The Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Magda Campins
- Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology Department, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Franca Cavaliere
- Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS-Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Frusca
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Sofia Guidi
- Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS-Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Miguel O'Ryan
- Microbiology and Mycology Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Associate Researcher, Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ulrich Heininger
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tina Tan
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ahmed R. Alsuwaidi
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Marco. A. Safadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luz M. Vilca
- Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Buzzi Hospital - ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nasamon Wanlapakorn
- Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Shabir A. Madhi
- Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Medical Research Council: Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Michelle L. Giles
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Roman Prymula
- School of Medicine Hradec Kralove, Institute of Social Medicine, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Shamez Ladhani
- Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, University of Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Litjen Tan
- Immunization Action Coalition, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Lessandra Michelin
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology Division, Health Sciences Post Graduation Program, University of Caxias Do Sul, Caxias Do Sul, Brazil
| | - Giovanni Scambia
- Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS-Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Susanna Esposito
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pediatric Clinic, Pietro Barilla Children's Hospital, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Engmann C, Fleming JA, Khan S, Innis BL, Smith JM, Hombach J, Sobanjo-Ter Meulen A. Closer and closer? Maternal immunization: current promise, future horizons. J Perinatol 2020; 40:844-857. [PMID: 32341454 PMCID: PMC7223555 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-020-0668-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This state-of-the art manuscript highlights our current understanding of maternal immunization-the practice of vaccinating pregnant women to confer protection on them as well as on their young infants, and thereby reduce vaccine-preventable morbidity and mortality. Advances in our understanding of the immunologic processes that undergird a normal pregnancy, studies from vaccines currently available and recommended for pregnant women, and vaccines for administration in special situations are beginning to build the case for safe scale-up of maternal immunization. In addition to well-known diseases, new diseases are emerging which pose threats. Several new vaccines are currently under development and increasingly include pregnant women. In this manuscript, targeted at clinicians, vaccinologists, scientists, public health practitioners, and policymakers, we also outline key considerations around maternal immunization introduction and delivery, discuss noninfectious horizons for maternal immunization, and provide a framework for the clinician faced with immunizing a pregnant woman.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Engmann
- Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition, PATH, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | - Sadaf Khan
- Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition, PATH, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bruce L Innis
- Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, PATH, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Smith
- Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joachim Hombach
- Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Carreras-Abad C, Ramkhelawon L, Heath PT, Le Doare K. A Vaccine Against Group B Streptococcus: Recent Advances. Infect Drug Resist 2020; 13:1263-1272. [PMID: 32425562 PMCID: PMC7196769 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s203454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) causes a high burden of neonatal and infant disease globally. Implementing a vaccine for pregnant women is a promising strategy to prevent neonatal and infant GBS disease and has been identified as a priority by the World Health Organisation (WHO). GBS serotype-specific polysaccharide – protein conjugate vaccines are at advanced stages of development, but a large number of participants would be required to undertake Phase III clinical efficacy trials. Efforts are therefore currently focused on establishing serocorrelates of protection in natural immunity studies as an alternative pathway for licensure of a GBS vaccine, followed by Phase IV studies to evaluate safety and effectiveness. Protein vaccines are in earlier stages of development but are highly promising as they might confer protection irrespective of serotype. Further epidemiological, immunological and health economic studies are required to enable the vaccine to reach its target population as soon as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Carreras-Abad
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK.,Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laxmee Ramkhelawon
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Paul T Heath
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK.,Pathogen Immunity Group, Public Health England, Porton Down,UK.,Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
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Beran J, Leroux-Roels G, Van Damme P, de Hoon J, Vandermeulen C, Al-Ibrahim M, Johnson C, Peterson J, Baker S, Seidl C, Dreisbach A, Karsten A, Corsaro B, Henry O, Lattanzi M, Bebia Z. Safety and immunogenicity of fully liquid and lyophilized formulations of an investigational trivalent group B streptococcus vaccine in healthy non-pregnant women: Results from a randomized comparative phase II trial. Vaccine 2020; 38:3227-3234. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.02.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Ahmed N, Giorgakoudi K, Usuf E, Okomo U, Clarke E, Kampmann B, Le Doare K, Trotter C. Potential cost-effectiveness of a maternal Group B streptococcal vaccine in The Gambia. Vaccine 2020; 38:3096-3104. [PMID: 32147298 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.02.071] [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: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate neonatal health benefits and healthcare provider costs of a theoretical Group B streptococcal (GBS) hexavalent maternal vaccination programme in The Gambia, a low-income setting in West Africa. METHODS A static decision analytic cost-effectiveness model was developed from the healthcare provider perspective. Demographic data and acute care costs were available from studies in The Gambia undertaken in 2012-2015. Further model parameters were taken from United Nations and World Health Organisation sources, supplemented by data from a global systematic review of GBS and literature searches. As vaccine efficacy is not known, we simulated vaccine efficacy estimates of 50-90%. Costs are reported in US dollars. Cost-effectiveness thresholds of one (US$473, very cost effective) and three (US$1420, cost effective) times Gambian GDP were used. RESULTS Vaccination with a hexavalent vaccine would avert 24 GBS disease cases (55%) and 768 disability adjusted life years compared to current standard of care (no interventions to prevent GBS disease). At vaccine efficacy of 70%, the programme is cost-effective at a maximum vaccine price per dose of 12 US$ (2016 US$), and very cost-effective at a maximum of $3/dose. The total costs of vaccination at $12 is $1,056,962 for one annual cohort of Gambian pregnant women. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that GBS incidence was the most influential parameter on the cost effectiveness ratio. CONCLUSION The introduction of a hexavalent vaccine would considerably reduce the current burden of GBS disease in The Gambia but to be cost-effective, the vaccine price per dose would need to be $12/dose or less.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Ahmed
- Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - K Giorgakoudi
- School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Insititute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - E Usuf
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) @LSHTM, Fajara, Gambia
| | - U Okomo
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) @LSHTM, Fajara, Gambia
| | - E Clarke
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) @LSHTM, Fajara, Gambia
| | - B Kampmann
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) @LSHTM, Fajara, Gambia
| | - K Le Doare
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) @LSHTM, Fajara, Gambia; St George's University of London, London, UK; West African Global Health Alliance, Dakar, Senegal
| | - C Trotter
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Buurman ET, Timofeyeva Y, Gu J, Kim JH, Kodali S, Liu Y, Mininni T, Moghazeh S, Pavliakova D, Singer C, Singh S, Handke LD, Lotvin J, Prasad AK, Scully IL, Donald RGK, Jansen KU, Anderson AS. A Novel Hexavalent Capsular Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine (GBS6) for the Prevention of Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Infections by Maternal Immunization. J Infect Dis 2020; 220:105-115. [PMID: 30778554 PMCID: PMC6548902 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Group B streptococcus (GBS) causes serious diseases in newborn infants, often resulting in lifelong neurologic impairments or death. Prophylactic vaccination of pregnant women prior to delivery could provide comprehensive protection, as early onset and late-onset disease and maternal complications potentially could be addressed. Methods Capsular polysaccharide conjugate vaccine GBS6 was designed using surveillance data yielded by whole-genome sequencing of a global collection of recently recovered GBS isolates responsible for invasive neonatal GBS disease. Capsular polysaccharides were isolated, oxidized using sodium periodate, and conjugated to CRM197 by reductive amination in dimethyl sulfoxide. Immune responses in mice and rhesus macaques were measured in a multiplex Luminex immunoglobulin G (IgG) assay and opsonophagocytic activity assays. Results The optimized conjugates were immunogenic, alone and in combination, in mice and rhesus macaques, inducing IgG antibodies that mediated opsonophagocytic killing. Active immunization of murine dams with GBS6 prior to mating resulted in serotype-specific protection of pups from a lethal challenge with GBS. Protection following passive administration of serotype-specific IgG monoclonal antibodies to dams demonstrated conclusively that anticapsular polysaccharide IgG alone is sufficient for protection. Conclusions The findings support the ongoing clinical evaluation of maternal GBS6 vaccination as a potential alternative method to prevent GBS disease in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ed T Buurman
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | | | - Jianxin Gu
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | - Jin-Hwan Kim
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | - Srinivas Kodali
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | - Yongdong Liu
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | - Terri Mininni
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | - Soraya Moghazeh
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | | | | | - Suddham Singh
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | - Luke D Handke
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | - Jason Lotvin
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
| | | | - Ingrid L Scully
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Pearl River, New York
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42
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Diaz-Dinamarca DA, Manzo RA, Soto DA, Avendaño-Valenzuela MJ, Bastias DN, Soto PI, Escobar DF, Vasquez-Saez V, Carrión F, Pizarro-Ortega MS, Wilson CAM, Berrios J, Kalergis AM, Vasquez AE. Surface Immunogenic Protein of Streptococcus Group B is an Agonist of Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4 and a Potential Immune Adjuvant. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010029. [PMID: 31963234 PMCID: PMC7157747 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccine-induced protection against pathogens, especially subunit-based vaccines, are related to antigen properties but mainly in their ability to stimulate the immune system by the use of an adjuvant. Modern vaccines are formulated with a high level of antigen purity, where an efficient adjuvant is necessary. In this context, the use of protein Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) agonists as vaccine adjuvants has been highlighted because of their optimal immunogenicity and minimal toxicity. The Surface Immunogenic Protein (SIP) from Group B Streptococcus (GBS) has gained importance as a new potential protein-based vaccine. Recently, we reported that recombinant SIP (rSIP) expressed by E. coli and purified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) alone induces a protective humoral immune response. In this study, we present the immunomodulatory properties of rSIP as a protein-based adjuvant, as an agonist of TLR. To this end, we showed that C57BL/6 bone marrow-derived dendritic cells pulsed by rSIP resulted in enhanced CD40, CD80, CD86, and Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II as well as increased secretion proinflammatory cytokines Interleukin (IL)-6, Interferon (IFN)-γ, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, and IL-10. Next, we investigated the in vivo effect of rSIP in the absence or presence of ovalbumin (OVA) on antigen-specific antibody secretion in C57BL/6 mice. Immunization with rSIP plus OVA showed that anti-OVA IgG2a and IgG1a increased significantly compared with OVA alone in C57BL/6 mice. Also, the immunization of rSIP plus OVA generates increased serum cytokines levels characterized by IL-12p70, IL-10, IL-4, and IFN-γ. Interestingly, we observed that rSIP stimulate Toll Like Receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4, individually expressed by Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293-derived TLR reporter cells. These findings suggest that rSIP is a new potential protein TLR agonist adjuvant and may be employed in the development of new vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A. Diaz-Dinamarca
- Seccion de Biotecnologia, Instituto de Salud Publica de Chile, Santiago 7780050, Chile; (D.A.D.-D.); (R.A.M.); (D.A.S.); (M.J.A.-V.); (D.N.B.); (P.I.S.); (D.F.E.); (V.V.-S.)
- Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile; (M.S.P.-O.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Ricardo A. Manzo
- Seccion de Biotecnologia, Instituto de Salud Publica de Chile, Santiago 7780050, Chile; (D.A.D.-D.); (R.A.M.); (D.A.S.); (M.J.A.-V.); (D.N.B.); (P.I.S.); (D.F.E.); (V.V.-S.)
| | - Daniel A. Soto
- Seccion de Biotecnologia, Instituto de Salud Publica de Chile, Santiago 7780050, Chile; (D.A.D.-D.); (R.A.M.); (D.A.S.); (M.J.A.-V.); (D.N.B.); (P.I.S.); (D.F.E.); (V.V.-S.)
| | - María José Avendaño-Valenzuela
- Seccion de Biotecnologia, Instituto de Salud Publica de Chile, Santiago 7780050, Chile; (D.A.D.-D.); (R.A.M.); (D.A.S.); (M.J.A.-V.); (D.N.B.); (P.I.S.); (D.F.E.); (V.V.-S.)
- Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile; (M.S.P.-O.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Diego N. Bastias
- Seccion de Biotecnologia, Instituto de Salud Publica de Chile, Santiago 7780050, Chile; (D.A.D.-D.); (R.A.M.); (D.A.S.); (M.J.A.-V.); (D.N.B.); (P.I.S.); (D.F.E.); (V.V.-S.)
- Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile; (M.S.P.-O.); (A.M.K.)
- Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomas, Santiago 8320000, Chile
| | - Paulina I. Soto
- Seccion de Biotecnologia, Instituto de Salud Publica de Chile, Santiago 7780050, Chile; (D.A.D.-D.); (R.A.M.); (D.A.S.); (M.J.A.-V.); (D.N.B.); (P.I.S.); (D.F.E.); (V.V.-S.)
| | - Daniel F. Escobar
- Seccion de Biotecnologia, Instituto de Salud Publica de Chile, Santiago 7780050, Chile; (D.A.D.-D.); (R.A.M.); (D.A.S.); (M.J.A.-V.); (D.N.B.); (P.I.S.); (D.F.E.); (V.V.-S.)
| | - Valeria Vasquez-Saez
- Seccion de Biotecnologia, Instituto de Salud Publica de Chile, Santiago 7780050, Chile; (D.A.D.-D.); (R.A.M.); (D.A.S.); (M.J.A.-V.); (D.N.B.); (P.I.S.); (D.F.E.); (V.V.-S.)
| | - Flavio Carrión
- Programa de Inmunología Traslacional, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 8320000, Chile;
| | - Magdalena S. Pizarro-Ortega
- Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile; (M.S.P.-O.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Christian A. M. Wilson
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile;
| | - Julio Berrios
- Escuela de Ingeniería en Bioquímica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile;
| | - Alexis M. Kalergis
- Millenium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile; (M.S.P.-O.); (A.M.K.)
- Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile
| | - Abel E. Vasquez
- Seccion de Biotecnologia, Instituto de Salud Publica de Chile, Santiago 7780050, Chile; (D.A.D.-D.); (R.A.M.); (D.A.S.); (M.J.A.-V.); (D.N.B.); (P.I.S.); (D.F.E.); (V.V.-S.)
- Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomas, Santiago 8320000, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Providencia, Santiago 8320000, Chile
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-2-2575-5513
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Carreras-Abad C, Cochet M, Hall T, Ramkhelawon L, Khalil A, Peregrine E, Vinayakarao L, Sivarajan S, Hamid R, Planche T, Sheridan E, Winchester S, Plumb J, Djennad A, Andrews N, Le Doare K, Heath P. Developing a serocorrelate of protection against invasive group B streptococcus disease in pregnant women: a feasibility study. Health Technol Assess 2019; 23:1-40. [PMID: 31855555 PMCID: PMC6936166 DOI: 10.3310/hta23670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group B streptococcus is the leading cause of infection in infants. Currently, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis is the major strategy to prevent invasive group B streptococcus disease. However, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis does not prevent maternal sepsis, premature births, stillbirths or late-onset disease. Maternal vaccination may offer an alternative strategy. Multivalent polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccine development is under way and a serocorrelate of protection is needed to expedite vaccine licensure. OBJECTIVES The ultimate aim of this work is to determine the correlate of protection against the major group B streptococcus disease-causing serotypes in infants in the UK. The aim of this feasibility study is to test key operational aspects of the study design. DESIGN Prospective cohort study of pregnant women and their infants in a 6-month period (1 July to 31 December 2018). SETTING Five secondary and tertiary hospitals from London and South England. National iGBS disease surveillance was conducted in all trusts in England and Wales. PARTICIPANTS Pregnant women aged ≥ 18 years who were delivering at one of the selected hospitals and who provided consent during the study period. There were no exclusion criteria. INTERVENTIONS No interventions were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES (1) To test the feasibility of collecting serum at delivery from a large cohort of pregnant women. (2) To test the key operational aspects for a proposed large serocorrelates study. (3) To test the feasibility of collecting samples from those with invasive group B streptococcus. RESULTS A total of 1823 women were recruited during the study period. Overall, 85% of serum samples were collected at three sites collecting only cord blood. At the two sites collecting maternal, cord and infant blood samples, the collection rate was 60%. A total of 614 women were screened for group B streptococcus with a colonisation rate of 22% (serotype distribution: 30% III, 25% Ia, 16% II, 14% Ib, 14% V and 1% IV). A blood sample was collected from 34 infants who were born to colonised women. Maternal and infant blood and the bacterial isolates for 15 newborns who developed invasive group B streptococcal disease during the study period were collected (serotype distribution: 29% III, 29% II, 21% Ia, 7% Ib, 7% IV and 7% V). LIMITATIONS Recruitment and sample collection were dependent on the presence of research midwives rather than the whole clinical team. In addition, individualised consent limited the number of women who could be approached each day, and site set-up for the national surveillance study and the limited time period of this feasibility study limited recruitment of all eligible participants. CONCLUSIONS We have verified the feasibility of collecting and processing rectovaginal swabs and blood samples in pregnant women, as well as samples from those with invasive group B streptococcal disease. We have made recommendations for the recruitment of cases within the proposed GBS3 study and for controls both within GBS3 and as an extension of this feasibility study. FUTURE WORK A large case-control study comparing specific immunoglobulin G levels in mothers whose infants develop invasive group B streptococcal disease with those in colonised mothers whose infants do not develop invasive group B streptococcal disease is recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN49326091; IRAS project identification number 246149/REC reference number 18/WM/0147. FUNDING This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 67. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Carreras-Abad
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Madeleine Cochet
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Tom Hall
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Laxmee Ramkhelawon
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Asma Khalil
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Elisabeth Peregrine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Latha Vinayakarao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Poole, UK
| | - Sharmila Sivarajan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Redhill, UK
| | - Rosol Hamid
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, Croydon, UK
| | - Tim Planche
- Microbiology Department, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Stephen Winchester
- Microbiology Department, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Redhill, UK
| | - Jane Plumb
- Group B Strep Support Group, Haywards Heath, UK
| | - Abdelmajid Djennad
- Statistics, Modelling and Economics Department, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Nick Andrews
- Statistics, Modelling and Economics Department, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Paul Heath
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group and Vaccine Institute, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
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Plotkin SA. Updates on immunologic correlates of vaccine-induced protection. Vaccine 2019; 38:2250-2257. [PMID: 31767462 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.10.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Correlates of protection (CoPs) are increasingly important in the development and licensure of vaccines. Although the study of CoPs was initially directed at identifying a single immune function that could explain vaccine efficacy, it has become increasingly clear that there are often multiple functions responsible for efficacy. This review is meant to supplement prior articles on the subject, illustrating both simple and complex CoPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley A Plotkin
- Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Vaxconsult, 4650 Wismer Rd., Doylestown, PA 18902, United States.
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45
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Choi MJ, Noh JY, Jang AY, Cheong HJ, Kim WJ, Song DJ, Cho GJ, Oh MJ, Zhi Y, Seo HS, Song JY. Age-stratified analysis of serotype-specific baseline immunity against group B streptococcus. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 16:1338-1344. [PMID: 31687869 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1688036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) vaccines are currently under development. Data on the natural immunity in diverse age groups will aid establishing the GBS immunization policy. In this study, thirty serum samples were collected from three age groups (neonates/infants, pregnant women, and the elderly) between August 2016 and July 2017. Serotype-specific opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) was assessed using a GBS multiplex opsonophagocytic killing assay (MOPA) against serotypes Ia, III, and V. The mean OPA titers for serotype Ia of the three age groups were not significantly different (p = .156), but tended to be lower in neonates/infants (mean ± standard deviation, 137 ± 278). For serotype III and V, the mean OPA titer of neonates/infants (338 ± 623 and 161 ± 445, respectively) was significantly lower than that of pregnant women (1377 ± 1167 and 9414 ± 6394) and the elderly (1350 ± 1741 and 3669 ± 5597) (p = .002). In conclusion, the lower levels of OPA titers against all tested serotypes in neonates/infants, despite high maternal titers, indicates that intrapartum GBS vaccinations may be required for efficient placental transfer of serotype-specific GBS antibodies with high avidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Joo Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine , Incheon, Korea
| | - Ji Yun Noh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - A-Yeung Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jin Cheong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Joo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Jin Song
- Department of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Geum Joon Cho
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jeong Oh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Zhi
- Biotechnology Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute , Jeongeup, Republic of Korea.,Department of Radiation Biotechnology and Applied Radioisotope Science, University of Science and Technology , Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Seong Seo
- Biotechnology Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute , Jeongeup, Republic of Korea.,Department of Radiation Biotechnology and Applied Radioisotope Science, University of Science and Technology , Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Young Song
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul, Republic of Korea
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46
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Novel Multiplex Immunoassays for Quantification of IgG against Group B Streptococcus Capsular Polysaccharides in Human Sera. mSphere 2019; 4:4/4/e00273-19. [PMID: 31391276 PMCID: PMC6686225 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00273-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections constitute a major cause of invasive disease during the first three months of life and an unmet medical need that could be addressed by maternal vaccination. The GBS capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) have shown promise as vaccine targets in clinical studies. A highly specific serological assay to quantify maternal and neonatal anti-CPS antibody levels will be instrumental for GBS vaccine licensure. Here, we describe the development and comparison of two novel multiplex immunoassays (MIAs) based on the Luminex technology for the quantification of IgG antibodies recognizing the five most frequent GBS capsular variants (Ia, Ib, II, III, and V) out of the ten types identified. The first assay is based on the use of biotinylated CPSs coupled to streptavidin-derivatized magnetic microspheres (Biotin-CPS MIA), while the second is a sandwich assay with plain CPSs coupled to magnetic microspheres coated with polysaccharide-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies (Sandwich MIA). Both assays showed good specificity, linearity, and precision, although the Biotin-CPS MIA presented higher sensitivity and lower complexity than the Sandwich MIA. A panel of human sera representing a wide range of anti-CPS IgG concentrations was tested in parallel by the two assays, which resulted in comparable titers. Our data support the preservation of antigenic epitopes in the biotinylated polysaccharides and the suitability of the Biotin-CPS MIA for the precise determination of GBS anti-CPS IgG concentrations in human sera.IMPORTANCE Group B streptococcal infections can cause death in neonates up to 3 months of age. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis in GBS-colonized mothers has limited early infections but has no impact after the first week of life. The development of a maternal vaccine to address this unmet medical need has been identified as a priority by the World Health Organization, and the GBS CPSs are considered the best antigen targets. However, to date there are no accepted standardized assays to measure immune responses to the investigational vaccines and for establishment of serocorrelates of protection. Here, we describe the performance of two microsphere-based pentaplex immunoassays for the determination of antibodies recognizing the five most frequent GBS serotypes. Our data confirm that an assay based on biotinylated polysaccharides coupled to streptavidin microspheres would be suitable for the intended purpose.
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The role of immune correlates of protection on the pathway to licensure, policy decision and use of group B Streptococcus vaccines for maternal immunization: considerations from World Health Organization consultations. Vaccine 2019; 37:3190-3198. [PMID: 31031031 PMCID: PMC6528168 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
There is a major public health need for GBS vaccines for maternal immunization. Important obstacles lie in the way of a pivotal clinical efficacy trial for licensure. A vaccine development pathway based on an immune correlate of protection is envisaged. Key considerations and priority activities for success are presented, based on WHO consultations.
The development of a group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccine for maternal immunization constitutes a global public health priority, to prevent GBS-associated early life invasive disease, stillbirth, premature birth, maternal sepsis, adverse neurodevelopmental consequences, and to reduce perinatal antibiotic use. Sample size requirements for the conduct of a randomized placebo-controlled trial to assess vaccine efficacy against the most relevant clinical endpoints, under conditions of appropriate ethical standards of care, constitute a significant obstacle on the pathway to vaccine availability. Alternatively, indirect evidence of protection based on immunologic data from vaccine and sero-epidemiological studies, complemented by data from opsonophagocytic in vitro assays and animal models, could be considered as pivotal data for licensure, with subsequent confirmation of effectiveness against disease outcomes in post-licensure evaluations. Based on discussions initiated by the World Health Organization we present key considerations about the potential role of correlates of protection towards an accelerated pathway for GBS vaccine licensure and wide scale use. Priority activities to support progress to regulatory and policy decision are outlined.
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