Streptococcus Agalactiae Group B Antibodies, Proteins & ELISA Kits

Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococcus (GBS) describes round bacteria that grow in chains. S. agalactiae was previously known to infect cattle, resulting in reduced milk production. Thereafter, S. agalactiae was found to also be a human pathogen responsible for infections that most commonly affect pregnant women and new-borns.

S. agalactiae is a normal member of the gastrointestinal and vaginal microbiota. It colonizes the lower genital tract during pregnancy. Consequently, it is the most important cause of neonatal early-onset sepsis, meningitis, preterm births and stillbirths. In addition, it is an emerging pathogen in the elderly and immunocompromised adults. In 2015, there were an estimated 319,000 cases of invasive neonatal GBS disease worldwide, resulting in 90,000 infant deaths. While there are no vaccines against GBS currently available, several surface protein and polysaccharide conjugate vaccines are under trial.

Partially purified CAMP was injected into mice and rabbits resulting in an increased mortality rate. These results suggest that CAMP contributes to virulence in S. agalactiae. In addition, in a murine model, when CAMP was co-administered with a sublethal dose of S. agalactiae, there was a significant increase in septicaemia and death. This further supports the role of CAMP as a virulence factor in S. agalactiae.

Hyaluronidase (Hyl) is a significant virulence factor in Gram-positive bacteria. GBS Hyl or HylB promotes vaginal colonization. GBS secretes HylB, thereafter, it targets and degrades host hyaluronic acid into its disaccharide components. Subsequently, TLR2/TLR4 signaling is blocked.

GBS-host-cell interactions require the attachment of the bacterium to ECM molecules such as fibrinogen and laminin. These in turn bind host-cell-surface proteins such as integrins.

Siglecs or sialic-acid-recognising immunoglobulin superfamily lectins engage with GBS capsular sialic acids on human leukocytes.

The surface-anchored AC protein (ACP) mediates GBS invasion of cervical epithelial cells, thus, it is important for GBS virulence. ACP interacts with host-cell glycosaminoglycan to promote the internalization of GBS into host cells.

There are two-component signal transduction systems (TCS) in the pathophysiology of GBS. TCS-16 is vital for the growth of GBS on fructose-6-phosphate and is thought to play a role in carbon metabolism and bacterial fitness during host colonization.

Thioredoxin markers act as potential biomarkers for the pathophysiology of S. agalactiae infection. In addition, these markers could serve as a basis for novel vaccine development. In addition, IL-6, IL-8, and CD11b provide novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of neonatal GBS infection in an early stage.

Several soluble inflammatory chemokines and cytokines play an important role in the reduction of GBS vaginal colonization including: IL-1A, IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-23, and histamine. Studies show that IL-17 and IL-17+ cells function in the clearance of an invasive and hyper-adherent strain of GBS from the vagina.

It has been found that intra-amniotic administration of cytokines, such as TNF-A and IL-1B alone, can induce preterm labour in pregnant nonhuman primates. In addition, IL-1A, IL-1B, IL-6, and IL-8 have been shown to drive infection-associated preterm labor in humans.

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Immunometabolism plays a key role in health and disease. It describes the changes that occur within the intracellular metabolic pathways of immune cells during activation.

Streptococcaceae, including S. agalactiae, use glycolysis for energy production. In GBS, essential genes are enriched for cellular housekeeping functions, such as glycolysis and nucleotide metabolism. Nox-2, an H2O-forming NADH oxidase, is produced by Streptococcaceae. The inability of nox-2 mutants to grow aerobically is primarily due to a defect in fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis. A nox-2 defect is known to affect the aerobic growth of GBS. Reduced virulence suggests that NADH oxidase and aerobic conditions are essential for the GBS infection process.

Assay Genie provides Glycolysis, and Fatty Acid Oxidation immunometabolism assay kits that would support Streptococcus Agalactiae research.

The best studied and most widely used animal model for S. agalactiae research is the mouse model. In addition, an in vivo model of GBS pneumonia was examined using a guinea pig model of fetal in utero ethanol (ETOH) exposure. It was found that ETOH exposure impairs defence's against GBS in the Guinea pig lung.

Assay Genie offers a wide range of animal model ELISA kits with the potential to support the advancing field of Streptococcus Agalactiae research.