title: Group B Streptococcus bacteremia elicits beta C protein-specific IgMand IgG in humans.
abstract: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) beta C protein elicits protective antibodies in experimental animals, making beta C protein an attractive component of a human GBS glycoconjugate vaccine. We determined whether natural exposure to beta C protein elicits antibodies in humans. Geometric mean concentrations (in micrograms per milliliter) of beta C-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were similar in serum from 16 colonized (0.82 and 0.76, respectively) and 48 age-matched noncolonized (0.96 and 0.74, respectively) pregnant women. Serum from 3 women with beta C GBS bacteremia had significantly higher levels of IgM (6.0) and IgG (52.9) (P=.01 and 0.01, respectively). Invasive disease but not colonization elicits beta C-specific IgM and IgG.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA. pannaraj@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Pia S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Pannaraj
authors.forename: Joanna K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Lawrence C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Madoff
authors.forename: Marcia A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rench
authors.forename: Catherine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lachenauer
authors.forename: Morven S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000097:blood*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C082525:beta protein, Streptococcus