Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F (S. pneumoniae PCV13 serotypes)

These are the capsular polysaccharide antigens that define 13 prominent serotypes of *Streptococcus pneumoniae*, a major global bacterial pathogen causing invasive disease such as pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. These serotypes were selected for broad coverage in the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) because they historically accounted for the majority of serious pneumococcal infections prior to widespread vaccination. Each serotype is immunologically distinct due to differences in its polysaccharide capsule, which is the principal target of vaccine-induced protective antibodies. These antigens are not molecular targets in the traditional sense (receptor, enzyme, etc.), but represent key microbial surface antigens that serve as both virulence factors and vaccine targets[2][1][4][5].

Other names

Pneumococcal serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 23FPCV13 serotypesVaccine-type pneumococcal serotypes

Induction of antigen-specific immune response, primarily generation of anti-capsular antibodies via vaccination