Open AccessPiuA and PiaA, iron uptake lipoproteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae , elicit serotype independent antibody responses following human pneumococcal septicaemia
Author(s) -
Whalan Rachael H.,
Funnell Simon G.P.,
Bowler Lucas D.,
Hudson Michael J.,
Robinson Andrew,
Dowson Christopher G.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsim.2004.07.010
Subject(s) - streptococcus pneumoniae , serotype , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , antibody , streptococcaceae , pneumococcal infections , virology , immunology , antibiotics
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. The need for a cheap and effective pneumococcal vaccine has necessitated the evaluation of common virulence‐associated proteins as potential vaccine antigens. PiuA and PiaA are the lipoprotein components of two pneumococcal iron ABC transporters. Here, we show that patients with culture confirmed pneumococcal septicaemia have elevated levels of antibody to PiuA and PiaA in convalescent‐phase, compared with acute‐phase serum. Additionally, sera from septicaemic patients infected with 13 pneumococcal strains covering eight different serotypes, cross‐reacted with recombinant PiuA‐His 6 and PiaA‐His 6 from a single pneumococcal strain, indicating that this immune response is serotype independent. Anti‐PiuA and anti‐PiaA antibodies were also found in healthy seven‐month‐old infants, indicating that they are immunogenic at a very early age.