Phosphorylcholine-carbohydrate-protein conjugates efficiently induce hapten-specific antibodies which recognize both Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis:: A potential multitarget vaccine against respiratory infections

Phosphoryleholine (ChoP) is commonly expressed at the surface of pathogens of the respiratory tract, including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. We designed a synthetic hapten comprising ChoP and part of its native carrier structure in S. pneumoniae, i.e. N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc). Protein conjugates of this hapten induced GaINAc-ChoP-specific antibodies which recognized Chol? on both S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis. GalNAc-ChoP could therefore lead to the rational design of a novel multipurpose vaccine against respiratory infections.