Open AccessA Common Food Glycan, Pectin, Shares an Antigen with Streptococcus pneumoniae Capsule
Author(s) -
Moon H. Nahm,
Jigui Yu,
Jiří Vlach,
Maor BarPeled
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
msphere
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.749
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2379-5042
DOI - 10.1128/msphere.00074-20
Subject(s) - glycan , microbiology and biotechnology , streptococcus pneumoniae , epitope , serotype , antigen , biology , immune system , antibody , pectin , pathogen , monoclonal antibody , virology , immunology , glycoprotein , food science , biochemistry , antibiotics
The impact of food consumption on vaccine responses is unknown. Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is an important human pathogen, and its polysaccharide capsule is used as a vaccine. We show that capsule type 10A in a pneumococcal vaccine shares an antigenic epitope, βGal(1-6), with pectin, which is in many plant foods and is widely consumed. Immune response to 10A is comparable to that seen with other capsule types, and pectin ingestion may have little impact on vaccine responses. However, antibody to pectin can kill serotype 10A pneumococci and this shared epitope may be considered in pneumococcal vaccine designs.