Open AccessConstruction of a multivalent vaccine strain of Shigella flexneri and evaluation of serotype‐specific immunity
Author(s) -
Jennison Amy V.,
Roberts Fleur,
Verma Naresh K.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2006.00062.x
Subject(s) - shigella flexneri , serotype , shigellosis , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , biology , shigella , immunity , antigen , immune system , immunization , immunology , salmonella , escherichia coli , bacteria , genetics , gene
Shigella flexneri causes more fatalities by shigellosis than any other Shigella species. There are 13 different serotypes of S. flexneri and their distribution varies between endemic geographical regions. The immune response against S. flexneri is serotype‐specific, so current immunization strategies have required the administration of multiple vaccine strains to provide protection against multiple serotypes. In this study, we report the construction of a multivalent S. flexneri vaccine strain, SFL1425, expressing the O‐antigen structure specific for serotypes 2a and 5a. This combination of type antigens has not previously been reported for S. flexneri . The multivalent vaccine strain, SFL1425 was able to induce a specific immune response against both serotypes 2a and 5a in a mouse pulmonary model.