Capacity of serotype 19A and 15B/C Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates for experimental otitis media: Implications for the conjugate vaccine.
Non-vaccine Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes are increasingly associated with disease. We evaluated isolates of the same sequence type (ST199) but different serotypes (15B/C, 19A) for growth in vitro, and pathogenic potential in a chinchilla otitis media model. We also developed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to quantitatively assess each isolate, circumventing the need for selectable markers. In vitro studies showed faster growth of serotype 19A over 15B/C. Both were equally capable of colonization and middle ear infection in this model. Serotype 19A is included in new conjugate vaccine formulations while serotype 15B/C is not. Non-capsular vaccine targets will be important in disease prevention efforts.
Laufer
Alison S
AS
Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States.
Thomas
Jonathan C
JC
Figueira
Marisol
M
Gent
Janneane F
JF
Pelton
Stephen I
SI
Pettigrew
Melinda M
MM
D000818:Animals; D002682:Chinchilla; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines