Type II group B Streptococci are a frequent cause of serious human infections. They are the major cause of maternal and adult group B streptococcal infections and are second only to type III strains as a cause of neonatal infections. Antibodies directed against the type-specific polysaccharides of group B streptococci are thought to play an important role in host defense against these organisms. However, the precise nature of the immunological determinants against which protective antibodies are directed is not understood. Therefore, the complete chemical structure of the type II polysaccharide will be determined using methylation analysis, specific chemical degradations and 13C-N.M.R. The exact nature of the importance immunological determinants will be defined using various oligosaccharide fragments as inhibitors in an ELISA employing monoclonal antibodies to the type II polysaccharide. In addition, the specificity of naturally occurring antibodies to type II group B streptococci will be examined in selected human sera from patients with known colonization status or infection. Two main antibody assays will be employed: a quantitative ELISA for measuring antibody levels, and an opsonophagocytic assay for assessing the functional role of these antibodies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI019941-06
Application #
3129394
Study Section
Bacteriology and Mycology Subcommittee 1 (BM)
Project Start
1983-05-01
Project End
1990-12-31
Budget Start
1989-01-01
Budget End
1990-12-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Type
School of Medicine & Dentistry
DUNS #
004514360
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Pritchard, D G; Gray, B M; Egan, M L (1992) Murine monoclonal antibodies to type Ib polysaccharide of group B streptococci bind to human milk oligosaccharides. Infect Immun 60:1598-602
Gray, B M; Egan, M L; Pritchard, D G (1990) The group B streptococci: from natural history to the specificity of antibodies. Semin Perinatol 14:10-21
Yang, K D; Bohnsack, J F; Hawley, M M et al. (1990) Effect of fibronectin on IgA-mediated uptake of type III group B streptococci by phagocytes. J Infect Dis 161:236-41
Bohnsack, J F; Hawley, M M; Pritchard, D G et al. (1989) An IgA monoclonal antibody directed against type III antigen on group B streptococci acts as an opsonin. J Immunol 143:3338-42
Gray, B M; Pritchard, D G; Dillon Jr, H C (1989) Seroepidemiology of group B streptococcus type III colonization at delivery. J Infect Dis 159:1139-42
Gray, B M; Pritchard, D G; Springfield, J D et al. (1988) Seroepidemiology of group B Streptococcus type II antibody specificity. Epidemiol Infect 101:347-54
Pritchard, D G; Egan, M L; Gray, B M et al. (1988) Immunochemical characterization of the polysaccharide antigens of group B streptococci. Rev Infect Dis 10 Suppl 2:S367-71
Gray, B M; Egan, M L; Pritchard, D G (1988) Specificity of monoclonal antibodies against group B streptococcus type II and inhibition of their binding by human secretions. Pediatr Res 24:68-72
Huang, D H; Pritchard, D G; Sakai, T T et al. (1987) Proton nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of the amide hydrogen exchange rates of group A streptococcal polysaccharide in H2O. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 143:685-90
Huang, D H; Rama Krishna, N; Pritchard, D G (1986) Characterization of the group A streptococcal polysaccharide by two-dimensional 1H-nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy. Carbohydr Res 155:193-9

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