Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide serotype 18C (CPS18C)

Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide serotype 18C is a complex carbohydrate structure located on the outermost layer of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. This polysaccharide serves as a critical virulence factor by providing a physical barrier that prevents host immune cells from performing opsonophagocytosis and inhibits the deposition of complement proteins (Source: PubMed, PMID: 11807707). In the context of pharmacology, it acts as a primary antigen in several multi-valent pneumococcal vaccines. When administered as part of a conjugate vaccine, the 18C polysaccharide is chemically linked to a carrier protein, which transforms the immune response from T-cell independent to T-cell dependent, thereby inducing long-term immunological memory (Source: CDC, Pink Book). This target is essential for preventing invasive pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis and bacteremia, as well as mucosal infections like pneumonia and otitis media (Source: StatPearls, NBK442007). Therapeutic strategies focusing on this target aim to elicit high-affinity IgG antibodies that neutralize the pathogen and facilitate its clearance by the host immune system.

Other names

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 18C capsular polysaccharideS. pneumoniae 18C CPSPneumococcal polysaccharide 18C18C CPS

Induction of serotype-specific humoral immunity; conjugate vaccines facilitate a T-cell dependent immune response leading to B-cell memory and opsonophagocytic antibody production.