Using genomics to examine the persistence of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A in Ireland and the emergence of a sub-clade associated with vaccine failures

CONCLUSIONS: The identification of a sub-clade/variant of serotype 19A highlights the benefit of using WGS to analyse genotypes associated with persistence of a preventable serotype of S. pneumoniae. Particularly as this sub-clade identified was more likely to be associated with IPD in vaccinated children than other 19A genotypes. It is possible that changes to the galE gene, which is involved in capsule production but outside of the capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis locus, may affect bacterial persistence within the population. Discrete changes associated with vaccine-serotype persistence should be further investigated and may inform vaccine strategies.PMID:34301430 | DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.06.017

Source: Vaccine - July 24, 2021 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: M Corcoran J Mereckiene S Cotter S Murchan S W Lo L McGee R F Breiman R Cunney H Humphreys S D Bentley R A Gladstone Source Type: research