Significance Pneumococcal infections are major contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Introduction of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines (PCVs) into the childhood vaccination program has led to a decrease in invasive pneumococcal… Click to show full abstract
Significance Pneumococcal infections are major contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Introduction of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines (PCVs) into the childhood vaccination program has led to a decrease in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in vaccinated children but concurrently to an increase of nonvaccine-type IPD, also in nonvaccinated age groups such as the elderly. Thus, novel vaccine approaches are urgently needed, especially for the elderly, targeting all pneumococci causing IPD. Here, we show that pneumococcal membrane particles (MPs) evoke a serotype-independent cross-protection against IPD. This protection is dependent on the presence of the two conserved lipoproteins MalX and PrsA. We suggest that MPs can be used for pneumococcal vaccine development.
               
Click one of the above tabs to view related content.