Association between maternal Group B Streptococcus surface-protein antibody concentrations and invasive disease in their infants

Expert Rev Vaccines. 2015;14(12):1651-60. doi: 10.1586/14760584.2015.1085307. Epub 2015 Sep 12.

Abstract

Objectives: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) surface-proteins have been shown to be immunogenic and potential vaccine candidates. We aim to determine the association between maternal IgG antibodies to select GBS surface-proteins and invasive GBS disease in their infants.

Methods: Using a matched case-control study, maternal antibody levels for GBS-immunogenic bacterial adhesin, fibrinogen-binding protein A and pilus-island (PI) PI-1, PI-2a, PI-2b were compared between infants with invasive GBS disease and well-baby controls.

Results: The absolute risk of disease did not differ between cases and colonized controls with increasing antibody concentrations for these surface-proteins. There was, however, a relative risk reduction in invasive disease associated with fibrinogen-binding protein A, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.04 (95% CI: 0.01-0.69) at antibody levels ≥10,000 AU/ml.

Conclusion: We have not demonstrated an association between naturally occurring fibrinogen-binding protein A, GBS-immunogenic bacterial adhesin, and PI surface-protein antibodies and the risk of invasive disease in young infants. These surface-proteins may not be suitable GBS vaccine candidates.

Keywords: BibA; FbsA; GBS; Group B Streptococcus; Streptococcus agalactiae; pilus island.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adhesins, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antigens, Surface / immunology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Risk
  • Streptococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / immunology*

Substances

  • Adhesins, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Immunoglobulin G