Defining the mechanisms underlying the development of adaptive immunity to Streptococcus pyogenes

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The human pathogen, Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS), causes a spectrum of disease. Mild cases include non-invasive throat and skin infections and scarlet fever, whilst more severe disease involve invasive infections, which can be fatal. Repeated mild infections with different GAS strains throughout childhood are thought to induce protective immunity, resulting in a lower frequency of non-invasive throat and skin infections in adults compared to children. A vaccine to protect against non-invasive disease would be welcomed, since the resulting decrease in community transmission of GAS should decrease the morbidity and mortality caused by invasive disease. However, despite many years of research, the development of an effective vaccine has not yet been possible. Efforts have, in part, been hindered by a lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms underlying the development of protective immunity to GAS, making it difficult to determine the best antigen/s to target with vaccination. The aim of this project, therefore, is to contribute to the elucidation of these protective immune mechanisms by identifying immune mechanisms that may combat GAS in different cohorts.