Immune Cross-Opsonization Within emm Clusters Following Group A Streptococcus Skin Infection: Broadening the Scope of Type-Specific Immunity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) skin infections are particularly prevalent in developing nations. The GAS M protein, by which strains are differentiated into >220 different emm types, is immunogenic and elicits protective antibodies. A major obstacle for vaccine development has been the traditional understanding that immunity following infection is restricted to a single emm type. However, recent evidence has led to the hypothesis of immune cross-reactivity between emm types.

Methods

We investigated the human serological response to GAS impetigo in Fijian schoolchildren, focusing on 3 major emm clusters (E4, E6, and D4). Pre- and postinfection sera were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with N-terminal M peptides and bactericidal assays using the infecting-

SUBMITTER: Frost HR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7263703 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature