Antibodies against pneumococcal C-polysaccharide are not protective.

Abstract

The ability of antibodies against C-polysaccharide (C-Ps) to protect against experimental pneumococcal infection was examined in a mouse model. No protection against types 6A and 14 pneumococcal infection could be demonstrated neither with mouse monoclonal antibodies against C-Ps, specific for phosphorylcholine (PC) or for C-Ps backbone, nor for polyclonal rabbit immunsera against C-Ps. The monoclonal antibody with PC-specificity was protective against infection with type 27 pneumococcus, that has PC as part of its capsular polysaccharide. Type-specific mono- and polyclonal antibodies were highly protective against infection with the homologous type. We conclude that no species-specific protection can be achieved against intraperitoneal Streptococcus pneumoniae infection with optimally capsulated bacteria in outbred mice by passive immunization with antibodies to C-Ps.

• Authors: S V Nielsen, U B Sørensen, J Henrichsen
• Journal: Microbial pathogenesis (Microb Pathog) Vol. 14 Issue 4 Pg. 299-305 (Apr 1993) ISSN: 0882-4010 [Print] England
• PMID: 8326853 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Polysaccharides, Bacterial
• polysaccharide C-substance (Streptococcus)

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Bacterial (immunology)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (immunology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Mice
• Pneumococcal Infections (immunology)
• Polysaccharides, Bacterial (immunology)
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (pathogenicity)
• Virulence