Rhamnose polysaccharide-decorated outer membrane vesicles as a vaccine candidate targeting Group A Streptococcus from Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) cause a wide range of human-exclusive infections, annually killing more than 500,000 people. Antibiotic resistance incidence of invasive Strep A tripled in the past decade and emphasises the need to develop a universal Strep A vaccine. In this study, we developed recombinant rhamnose polysaccharides (RhaPS), a validated universal Strep A vaccine candidate, presented on E. coli outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). We investigated OMV-RhaPS for their immunogenicity in the mouse and rabbit models. Through flow cytometry, ELISA, Luminex assays, and immunofluorescence microscopy, we demonstrated that RhaPS-specific antibodies recognise Strep A strains via the Group A Carbohydrate (GAC) in S. pyogenes and the newly emerged S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis . Elevated IL-17a levels from RhaPS-OMV-immunised splenocytes indicate the RhaPS-specific stimulation of long-term memory immune cells. We are the first to report the efficacy and potency of recombinant produced RhaPS inducing humoral-mediated immune responses and triggering antibodies that recognise Strep A bacteria.
Source: Vaccine X
Institution: University of Dundee
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,440
Awards: Functional and structural studies of the streptococcal virulence factor Group A Carbohydrate biosynthesis pathway (Acronym: GAC)., Institutional Strategic Support Fund Phase2 FY2014/16, Institutional Strategic Support Fund Phase2 FY2014/16, Development of a Universal Group A Streptococcus Glycoconjugate Vaccine, Development of a Universal Group A Streptococcus Glycoconjugate Vaccine, G6868616705, G8480673519
OpenAlex ID: W4411196082