title: Quantitative determination of immunoglobulin G specific for group B streptococcal beta C protein in human maternal serum.
abstract: The beta C protein of group B streptococci (GBS) elicits antibody that is protective against GBS challenge in animals and is considered to be a potential component of a GBS conjugate vaccine. We developed a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure beta-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and used it to compare beta-specific IgG in a group of mothers of neonates with invasive type Ib/beta GBS disease and a group of mothers colonized with Ib/beta strains whose neonates remained well. beta-Specific IgG concentrations from these 2 groups were similar. To investigate differences in beta-specific antibody in animals and humans, protein fragments were generated that corresponded to major regions within the beta C protein. A single major region was predominantly recognized in human and rabbit serum samples. Thus, in contrast to immunized animals, no relationship was seen between levels of naturally acquired human beta-specific IgG and protection from neonatal disease. This difference was not explained by a major difference in epitope specificity.
authors.affiliation: Channing Laboratory and Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. clachenauer@channing.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Catherine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lachenauer
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Miriam J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gravekamp
authors.forename: Lawrence C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Madoff
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C070010:streptococcal beta antigen