First study of scpB gene of Streptococcus agalactiae in Misiones, Argentina

LACZESKI M, NOVOSAK M, ZAPATA P, VERGARA M

Rosario

Congreso; SAIB 2014; 2014

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is the leading cause of neonatal infections. The colonization of the genital tract ofpregnant women at term gestational age is significantly associated with these infections. Infants acquire GBS inuterus via ascending through intact membrane rupture or during the birth process. GBS presents different surfaceproteins of antigenic characteristics, such as α, β, Rib, HylB, Lmb and C5a peptidase. These proteins are encoded byseveral genes associated with virulence and host interaction acting on bacteria involved in invasiveness. The study ofthese surface protein antigens is important for the understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of infection.Several of these antigens have been proposed as components of multivalent conjugate vaccines. In this study weinvestigated the presence of cspB gene encoding the C5a peptidase. Recent studies indicate that C5a peptidasevaccine formulations cause a long-term immune response and prevent GBS infection. In this work, two hundredstrains of GBS were studied. All strains were recovered from vaginal and rectal swabs from pregnant women with 35-37 weeks of gestation. The search scpB gene was performed by conventional PCR. The presence of the cspB genewas detected in 100% of GBS strains studied. Our findings highlight the importance of including C5a peptidase in thedesign of a regional vaccine.