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Widespread use of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV) has reduced vaccine-type nasopharyngeal colonisation and invasive pneumococcal disease. In a double-blind, randomised controlled trial using the Experimental Human Pneumococcal Challenge (EHPC) model, PCV-13 (Prevenar-13) conferred 78% protection against colonisation acquisition and reduced bacterial intensity (AUC) as measured by classical culture. We used a multiplex qPCR assay targeting lytA and pneumococcal serotype 6A/B cpsA genes to re-assess the colonisation status of the same volunteers. Increase in detection of low-density colonisation resulted in reduced PCV efficacy against colonisation acquisition (29%), compared to classical culture (83%). For experimentally colonised volunteers, PCV had a pronounced effect on decreasing colonisation density. These results obtained in adults suggest that the success of PCV vaccination could primarily be mediated by the control of colonisation density. Studies assessing the impact of pneumococcal vaccines should allow for density measurements in their design.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.05.080

Type

Journal article

Journal

Vaccine

Publication Date

09/07/2019

Volume

37

Pages

3953 - 3956

Keywords

Colonisation, Density, PCV, Pneumococcus, QPCR, Adolescent, Adult, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pneumococcal Infections, Pneumococcal Vaccines, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Vaccination, Vaccines, Conjugate, Young Adult