Antibodies to conserved pneumococcal antigens correlate with, but are not required for, protection against pneumococcal colonization induced by prior exposure in a mouse model.
In mice following intranasal exposure to Streptococcus pneumoniae, protection against pneumococcal colonization was independent of antibody but dependent on CD4(+) T cells. Nonetheless, concentrations of antibodies to three conserved pneumococcal antigens correlated with protection against colonization. Concentrations of antibodies to conserved pneumococcal antigens may be correlates of protection without being effectors of protection.
Trzcinski
Krzysztof
K
Department of Epidemiology and Immunology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Thompson
Claudette
C
Malley
Richard
R
Lipsitch
Marc
M
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial