title: Protection against streptococcal pharyngeal colonization with a vaccinia: M protein recombinant.
abstract: Phagocytosis of group A streptococci requires type-specific antibodies directed against the variable determinants of the bacterial surface M protein molecule. As a step toward developing a broadly protective anti-streptococcal vaccine, a vaccinia virus (VV) recombinant was constructed that expresses the conserved region of the structural gene encoding the M6 molecule (VV:M6'). Mice immunized intranasally with the VV:M6' virus showed markedly reduced pharyngeal colonization by streptococci after intranasal and oral challenge with these bacteria. M protein-specific serum immunoglobulin G was significantly elevated in vaccinated animals and absent in controls. A similar approach may prove useful for the identification of protective determinants present on other bacterial and viral pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Fischetti
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Hruby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D007114:Immunization; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014612:Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C014689:streptococcal M protein