ABSTRACT
Objective To prepare a recombinant pneumococcal surface protein A clade 4 ( PspA4) and to analyze its immunogenicity.Methods The gene encoding PspA4 protein was synthesized and inserted into pET-20b to construct the recombinant expression plasmid.The transformed E.coli strains carrying expression plasmid were induced to express PspA4 protein.ELISA was performed to analyze the ti-ters of PspA4-specific IgG in a mouse model.Results The recombinant PspA4 protein of high purity ( 90%) was successfully prepared.The titers of PspA4-specific antibody in mice received PspA4 immuniza-tion were 106 times higher than those of the blank control group, suggesting that the expressed PspA4 protein had the advantage of high immunogenicity.Conclusion This study suggested that the PspA4 protein might be used as one of the candidate protein for the development of pneumovax and laid a foundation for further in-vestigation on pneumococcal protein based vaccine.
ABSTRACT
A 58-year-old female was admitted due to severe sepsis and multi-organ failure with a fulminant purpuric rash. Meropenem, vancomycin and levofloxacin were administered, although no focus of infection was detected. However, computed tomography revealed a profoundly hypoplastic spleen, and a blood smear detected Howell-Jolly bodies. Blood cultures grew <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> (serotype 22F) three hours after admission. The patient was finally diagnosed as overwhelming pneumococcal sepsis with hyposplenism precipitated by splenic hypoplasia. Clinicians should pay attention to the splenic size and Howell-Jolly bodies in cases of sepsis of unknown origin.