Variability of PspC (Pneumococcal surface protein C) in strains isolated in the University Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil)

摘要

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of respiratory tract infections. The vaccine composed of different capsular polysaccharides (PS) purified from pneumococci has low efficacy in children and the elderly, besides not being able to induce immunological memory. Although the 7-valent PS vaccine conjugated to CRM197 was an advance, the production cost is still a major barrier for its widespread use. A proposal to increase vaccine coverage at a low cost consists in the identification of protein antigens present in all pneumococcal isolates.