Understanding the molecular determinants driving the immunological specificity of the protective pilus 2a backbone protein of group B streptococcus.

ABSTRACT: The pilus 2a backbone protein (BP-2a) is one of the most structurally and functionally characterized components of a potential vaccine formulation against Group B Streptococcus. It is characterized by six main immunologically distinct allelic variants, each inducing variant-specific protection. To investigate the molecular determinants driving the variant immunogenic specificity of BP-2a, in terms of single residue contributions, we generated six monoclonal antibodies against a specific protein variant based on their capability to recognize the polymerized pili structure on the bacterial surface. Three mAbs were also able to induce complement-dependent opsonophagocytosis killing of live GBS and target the same linear epitope present in the structurally defined and immunodominant domain D3

SUBMITTER: Nuccitelli A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3694817 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature