Clin Exp Vaccine Res.  2018 Jan;7(1):76-81. 10.7774/cevr.2018.7.1.76.

Status of group B streptococcal vaccine development

• Lin SM
• Zhi Y
• Ahn KB
• Lim S
• Seo HS

• KMID: 2402541
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7774/cevr.2018.7.1.76

Abstract

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS) is a leading causal organism of neonatal invasive diseases and severe infections in the elderly. Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of GBS infections and improvement in personal hygiene standards, this pathogen is still a global health concern. Thus, an effective vaccine against GBS would augment existing strategies to substantially decrease GBS infection. In 2014, World Health Organization convened the first meeting for consultation on GBS vaccine development, focusing on the GBS maternal immunization program, which was aimed at reducing infections in neonates and young infants worldwide. Here, we review the history of GBS infections, the current vaccine candidates, and the current status of immunogenicity assays used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of GBS vaccines.

Keyword

Vaccines; Group B streptococcus; Streptococcus agalactiae; Conjugate vaccines; Polysaccharides

MeSH Terms

Aged
Diagnosis
Global Health
Humans
Hygiene
Immunization Programs
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Polysaccharides
Streptococcus
Streptococcus agalactiae
Treatment Outcome
Vaccines
Vaccines, Conjugate
World Health Organization
Polysaccharides
Vaccines
Vaccines, Conjugate

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Chemical-repeating unit structures of group B streptococcus (GBS) capsular polysaccharides (CPSs). CPSs are classified in three class depending on similarity of chemical structures and the enzymes involved in the assembly of the repeating units. (A) Class 1: the repeating unit consists of two sugars containing a β (1→3) linked side chain whose terminus possesses a sialic acid residue. (B) Class 2: the repeating unit consists of three sugars containing a β (1→6) linked side chain whose terminus possesses a sialic acid residue. (C) Class 3: CPS has no similarity with any other GBS CPSs.

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