Molecular epidemiology of infections caused by group B Streptococcus in pregnant women and newborns, and development of preventive vaccines

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Abstract

Hypothesis/aims of study. The present analysis was undertaken to summarize current knowledge about molecular properties of group B streptococci (GBS), emphasizing potential targets of vaccines against neonatal GBS infection.

Study design, materials, and methods. This review is based on articles published mainly in the last ten years.

Results. Epidemiological data on serotypes, multilocus sequence types, clonal complexes of GBS and their relationship are presented. Genetic events in GBS populations indicate significant obstacles to vaccine development. We described key properties of major GBS virulence factors, such as capsular polysaccharide, pili, and cell adhesion molecules, as well as results of experimental immunization on their basis.

Conclusion. The population of invasive GBS strains is molecularly and genetically heterogeneous, which complicates selection of vaccine targets. Capsular switching, a low level of immunogenicity and variability of population composition are the most important factors that necessitate the accumulation and monitoring of molecular epidemiological data.

About the authors

Vasilisa A. Vasilyeva

Saint Petersburg State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: silis019@gmail.com

Student. The Department of Microbiology, Biological Faculty

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Elena V. Shipitsyna

Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductology named after D.O. Ott

Email: shipitsyna@inbox.ru

PhD, DSci (Biology), Leading Researcher. The Laboratory of Microbiology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Kira V. Shalepo

Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductology named after D.O. Ott

Email: 2474151@mail.ru

PhD, Senior Researcher. The Laboratory of Microbiology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Alevtina M. Savicheva

Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductology named after D.O. Ott

Email: savitcheva@mail.ru

MD, PhD, DSci (Medicine), Professor, Honoured Scholar of the Russian Federation, the Head of the Laboratory of Microbiology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

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2. Fig. 1. Polysaccharide repeat unit structures of the nine group B streptococcus serotypes (adapted from [24]). Arrows represent potential relationships between the units

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3. Fig. 2. Comparison of genetic sequences of nine group B streptococcus serotypes (adapted from [24]). CpsA to -E and CpsL, as well as NeuB, -D, -A, and -C are conserved in all nine serotypes and are shown only in the type Ia capsule cluster. The color inside each arrow indicates the degree of similarity of the amino acid sequence between identical proteins of different strains

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Copyright (c) 2018 Vasilyeva V.A., Shipitsyna E.V., Shalepo K.V., Savicheva A.M.

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