title: Correlates of Protection for M Protein-Based Vaccines against Group A Streptococcus.
abstract: Group A streptococcus (GAS) is known to cause a broad spectrum of illness, from pharyngitis and impetigo, to autoimmune sequelae such as rheumatic heart disease, and invasive diseases. It is a significant cause of infectious disease morbidity and mortality worldwide, but no efficacious vaccine is currently available. Progress in GAS vaccine development has been hindered by a number of obstacles, including a lack of standardization in immunoassays and the need to define human correlates of protection. In this review, we have examined the current immunoassays used in both GAS and other organisms, and explored the various challenges in their implementation in order to propose potential future directions to identify a correlate of protection and facilitate the development of M protein-based vaccines, which are currently the main GAS vaccine candidates.
authors.affiliation: Group A Streptococcus Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Shu Ki
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9254-6339
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tsoi
authors.affiliation: Group A Streptococcus Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia ; Centre for International Child Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Pierre R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Smeesters
authors.affiliation: Group A Streptococcus Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Hannah R C
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.affiliation: Pneumococcal Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia ; Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6086-6285
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Licciardi
authors.affiliation: Group A Streptococcus Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia ; Centre for International Child Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia ; Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Steer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines; C014689:streptococcal M protein