IMMUNOGENICITY OF GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCUS TYPE-III POLYSACCHARIDE TETANUS TOXOID VACCINE IN BABOONS

Maternal vaccination has been proposed as a rational approach for the prevention of neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease. In this st udy, baboons were used as a nonhuman primate model to evaluate the imm unogenicity of a CBS type III glycoconjugate vaccine. Type III-specifi c immunoglobulin G with opsonic activity was induced after vaccination with type III polysaccharide coupled to tetanus toroid administered w ith an aluminum adjuvant. This suggests that baboons could be used in evaluating maternal transfer of GBS-specific antibodies by vaccination during pregnancy.