Proof of Concept for a Single-dose Group B Streptococcus Vaccine Based on Capsular Polysaccharide Conjugated to Qβ Virus-like Particles

Overview

Journal NPJ Vaccines

Date 2023 Oct 6

PMID 37803013

Authors

Filippo Carboni

Roberta Cozzi

Giacomo Romagnoli

Giovanna Tuscano

Cristiana Balocchi

Giada Buffi

Margherita Bodini

Cecilia Brettoni

Fabiola Giusti

Sara Marchi

Giulia Brogioni

Barbara Brogioni

Paolo Cinelli

Luigia Cappelli

Chiara Nocciolini

Silvia Senesi

Claudia Facciotti

Elisabetta Frigimelica

Monica Fabbrini

Daniela Stranges

Silvana Savino

Domenico Maione

Roberto Adamo

Benjamin Wizel

Immaculada Margarit

Maria Rosaria Romano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A maternal vaccine to protect neonates against Group B Streptococcus invasive infection is an unmet medical need. Such a vaccine should ideally be offered during the third trimester of pregnancy and induce strong immune responses after a single dose to maximize the time for placental transfer of protective antibodies. A key target antigen is the capsular polysaccharide, an anti-phagocytic virulence factor that elicits protective antibodies when conjugated to carrier proteins. The most prevalent polysaccharide serotypes conjugated to tetanus or diphtheria toxoids have been tested in humans as monovalent and multivalent formulations, showing excellent safety profiles and immunogenicity. However, responses were suboptimal in unprimed individuals after a single shot, the ideal schedule for vaccination during the third trimester of pregnancy. In the present study, we obtained and optimized self-assembling virus-like particles conjugated to Group B Streptococcus capsular polysaccharides. The resulting glyco-nanoparticles elicited strong immune responses in mice already after one immunization, providing pre-clinical proof of concept for a single-dose vaccine.

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