title: Anti-idiotypic vaccination against group B streptococci.
abstract: We describe the antigenic properties of an anti-idiotypic single chain fragment variable (scFv) recombinant antibody mimicking the type III capsular polysaccharide of group B streptococci (GBS), an important cause of neonatal sepsis. This scFv could compete with the nominal antigen for binding to specific mouse or rabbit antibodies. Moreover, the scFv elicited, in mice, the production of antibodies which reacted against the type IlI polysaccharide and passively protected neonatal pups from GBS disease. Maternal immunization with the scFv also protected neonatal mice against GBS infection. Next, the scFv was expressed on the surface of the commensal bacterium Streptococcus gordonii. Intravaginal inoculation of mice with these recombinant bacteria induced significant elevations in serum titers of anti-GBS type III antibodies. Therefore, the expression scFv in commensal bacteria may be a convenient and effective way of delivering anti-idiotypic vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Microbiologia, Università degli Studi di Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beninati
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oggioni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Midiri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polonelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines