Protective and nonprotective epitopes from amino termini of M proteins from Australian aboriginal isolates and reference strains of group A streptococci.

ABSTRACT: The M protein is the primary vaccine candidate to prevent group A streptococcal (GAS) infection and the subsequent development of rheumatic fever (RF). However, the large number of serotypes have made it difficult to design a vaccine against all strains. We have taken an approach of identifying amino-terminal M protein epitopes from GAS isolates that are highly prevalent in GAS-endemic populations within the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia. Australian Aboriginals in the NT experience the highest incidence of RF worldwide. To develop a vaccine for this population, 39 peptides were synthesized, representing the amino-terminal region of the M protein from endemic GAS. Mice immunized with these peptides covalently linked to tetanus toxoid and emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant raise

SUBMITTER: Brandt ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC97754 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature