title: Vaccines to prevent neonatal GBS infection.
abstract: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains the leading bacterial cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in the United States. Although antibiotic prophylaxis has decreased the infection rate, the best long-term solution lies in the development of effective vaccines. The GBS capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is a major target of antibody-mediated immunity. While antibody to CPS is protective, uncoupled CPS is variably immunogenic in humans, a finding that led to the development of GBS CPS-protein conjugate vaccines. GBS CPS-protein conjugate vaccines of all clinically important serotypes have been produced and tested in animals. Mice and baboons immunized with CPS conjugates transplacentally transferred functionally active GBS-specific IgG to their offspring. Phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials have shown that GBS conjugate vaccines are safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic in healthy adults. Moreover, human antibodies elicited by the conjugate vaccines are functionally active both in vitro and in animal models of invasive GBS disease.
authors.affiliation: Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. lpaoletti@channing.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Lawrence C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Lawrence C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Madoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D023421:Models, Animal; D012307:Risk Factors; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate; D014765:Viral Vaccines