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Streptococcus agalactiae ; immonogenic proteins ; epitopes ; proteomics ; immunodiagnostic
Abstract:
Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci, GBS) is an opportunistic pathogen that colonizes the gastrointestinal tract and genitrourinary tract in women. However, it is a significant clinical problem among infants, resulting in life-threatening infections. The aim of this dissertation was to identify, characterize and chemically synthesize immunogenic epitopes of Streptococcus agalactiae proteins recognized by umbilical cord blood antibodies. Based on the immunoblotting technique, three conservative and immunogenic GBS proteins were selected: enolase, mosme 5'monophosphate dehydrogenase and the GroEL chaperone, which were subjected to bioinforrnatic analysis to select the most probable epitopes. Epitope mapping was carried out on the basis of the Pepscan method, and their specificity was assessed m the enzyme immunoenzymatic test in the presence of GBS-positive and GBSnegative sera. A total of 1 O highly specific epitopes were selected from 266 amino acid sequences. The selected epitopes were then examined in the context of antigenic markers of infection and GBS carrier in the enzyme immunoassay. There were significant differences in the reactivity of epitopes in the presence of sera from infection and carrier. In addition, the reactivity of the immunogenic protein with its epitopes was also compared, and as a result, the superiority of the epitopes over the protein ; was demonstrated. These results indicate the high potentia! of immunogenic GBS proteins in the context of infection and carrier markers, and may also be considered as a component of an innovative vaccine against GBS.
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mikrobiologia ; pediatria ; położnictwo