Inactivated Streptococcus Pneumoniae Antigens

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a significant human pathogenic bacterium that causes pneumococcal disease. The two main modes of preventing pneumococcal infections are using antibiotics and vaccinations against pneumococcus. Creative Diagnostics has developed a range of inactivated streptococcus pneumoniae antigens that are suitable for diagnostic laboratories and research institutes to support your pneumococcal vaccine research.

Background

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a Gram-positive, spherical bacteria, aerotolerant anaerobic member of the genus Streptococcus. S. pneumoniae has a high genetic diversity with over 90 known serotypes, but only a minority of serotypes produce the majority of pneumococcal infections. S. pneumoniae can cause pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) like bacteremia and meningitis. S. pneumoniae invades its host by colonizing the nasopharynx asymptomatically. After colonization, if the bacterium is not cleared by the immune system, the bacterium is spread via horizontal dissemination into the lower airways and other organs and tissues, and becomes pathogenic. S. pneumoniae has greater incidence rates in children under the age of two, the immunocompromised, and the elderly. Up to 27–65% of children are carriers of S. pneumoniae and carriage involves a commensal relationship between the bacterium and the host.

Fig. 1 Schematic depiction of the spread and progression of S. pneumonia infection (Loughran AJ, et al. 2019)

Vaccines help prevent pneumococcal disease. In 2000, the first generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) was licensed in the U.S. This vaccine contained seven serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F) of S. pneumoniae and became known as PCV7 (Wyeth, Pfizer). In 2010, the second generation PCV13 (Pfizer) was licensed. This vaccine contained 13 serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F).