PROTECTION OF PATIENTS LACKING A FUNCTIONAL SPLEEN AGAINST S. PNEUMONIAE WITH PNEUMOCOCCAL SURFACE PROTEIN A (PspA)

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of treating Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in a subject lacking a functional spleen. This method involves administering to the subject lacking a functional spleen an antibody that recognizes pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) or a binding portion thereof under conditions effective to treat Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in the subject. The present invention also relates to a method of immunization against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in a subject lacking a functional spleen. This method involves administering to the subject lacking a functional spleen PspA or a fragment thereof under conditions effective to elicit immunity that can prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in the subject.