PNEUMOCOCCAL REFERENCE LABORATORY

由于b型流感嗜血杆菌(Hib)结合物获得许可 针对幼儿的疫苗，有强有力的证据表明Hib侵入性 疾病正在消失。肺炎链球菌(肺炎球菌)有 因此，在侵袭性疾病的发病率中承担了更大的角色。 在婴幼儿中，也与中耳炎有牵连 媒体。因此，肺炎球菌需要有针对性地开发疫苗。 努力。这份合同将支持一个参考和资源实验室 用于肺炎链球菌多糖结合疫苗的研究。这些 疫苗比Hib结合疫苗复杂得多： 有许多导致疾病的血清型，疫苗需要 是多价的；与某些血清型的结合化学是 技术上具有挑战性；可能需要多家运营商。化验 会很复杂，而且没有标准化的化验，努力诊断 疾病，并将评估疫苗的免疫原性和效力 妥协了。肺炎球菌参考实验室将：1)贡献 对标准化肺炎链球菌的开发和优化 抗体检测，2)作为参考中心，检测将通过它 为疫苗社区标准化，3)准备抗原和 试剂，以及4)进行血清学分析。这份合同还将 继续为Hib检测提供抗原和关键试剂。

Since licensure of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines for young infants, there is strong evidence that Hib invasive disease is disappearing. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) has accordingly assumed a bigger role in the incidence of invasive disease in infants and young children, and has also been implicated in otitis media. Consequently, pneumococcus warrants a focused vaccine development effort. This contract will support a reference and resource laboratory for studies of pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccines. These vaccines are considerably more complex that the Hib conjugate vaccines: there are numerous disease-causing serotypes and a vaccine will need to be multivalent; the chemistry of conjugation to some of the serotypes is technically challenging; and multiple carriers may be needed. Assays will be complex and without a standardized assay, efforts to diagnose disease, and to evaluate vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy will be compromised. The pneumococcal reference laboratory will: 1) contribute to the development and optimization of a standardized pneumococcal antibody assay, 2) serve as a reference center through which assays will be standardized for the vaccine community, 3) prepare antigens and reagents, and 4) perform serological assays. This contract will also continue to make available antigens and critical reagents for Hib assays.