pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 5

Pneumococcal polysaccharide serotype 5 is a monovalent vaccine candidate developed by Erasmus Universitair Medisch Centrum Rotterdam (Erasmus MC) for the prevention of infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 5. This serotype is a significant contributor to invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), including pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia, particularly in pediatric populations in developing regions such as Africa and Latin America. The vaccine utilizes the purified capsular polysaccharide of serotype 5 as the primary antigen to elicit a protective immune response. In modern vaccine development, this polysaccharide is typically conjugated to a carrier protein (such as CRM197) to transform the immune response from T-cell independent to T-cell dependent, thereby inducing higher antibody titers and immunological memory in infants and young children. The primary mechanism of action is the induction of serotype-specific antibodies that promote opsonophagocytosis and neutralization of the bacteria.

Other names

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 5 capsular polysaccharidepneumococcal serotype 5 vaccine