We found that conjugation of the serotype 19F polysaccharide using reductive amination (as in 7vCRM) resulted in the formation of at least one additional epitope that is not present in the native form of the 19F polysaccharide or following 19F conjugation using a bifunctional spacer (as in the prototype vaccine 7vOMPC) or cyanylation (as in PHiD-CV). We also found that pneumococcal vaccines conjugated using cyanylation induce more opsonophagocytic antibodies against serotype 19F and a considerably higher level of cross-opsonophagocytic antibodies against serotype 19A than vaccines conjugated using reductive amination. In conclusion, these results suggest that the conjugation method can influence the functionality of the antibodies induced against the homologous serotype 19F and the cross-reactive serotype 19A of S. pneumoniae. 7vCRM (Prevenar/Prevnar; Pfizer, Inc.) contains capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F, each conjugated to the nontoxic cross-reacting mutant diphtheria toxin CRM 197 . Serotype 19A was not included in 7vCRM, because it was expected that the immunological similarities with vaccine serotype 19F would elicit sufficient cross-protection, as observed for serotype 6B and the related serotype 6A (26,38,48,52). Serotypes 19F and 19A are indeed closely related biochemically (38, 52). Serotype 19A and 19F polysaccharides are composed of similar trisaccharide units polymerized through phosphate diester groups and differ only in the position of the linkage to the ␣-L-rhamnose residue: ␣(132) for 19F and ␣(133) for 19A (19,29
Primary infection with Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy can induce fetal pathology and abortion in both humans and animals. The present study describes the development of an experimental model of congenital toxoplasmosis in the guinea pig. In this animal model, we evaluated the protective effect of vaccination with a recombinant form of SAG1 against maternofetal transmission of tachyzoites. The presence of parasites in fetuses was determined by nested PCRs and by an in vivo readout after fetal brain homogenate injections in mice. The absence of parasites was demonstrated in 66 to 86% of fetuses derived from adult guinea pigs immunized with SAG1 and challenged with the mildly virulent T. gondii strain C56. In contrast, more than 80% of fetuses from mock-immunized guinea pigs were infected. The protection was not correlated with titers of antibody to SAG1. Our results indicated that this experimental model constitutes a relevant model for evaluation of vaccine candidates against congenital toxoplasmosis and that SAG1 elicits significant protection against maternofetal transmission.
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