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A conserved antigen induces respiratory Th17-mediated serotype-independent protection against pneumococcal superinfection

Current pneumococcal vaccines, based on capsule polysaccharides, confer protection against approximately 20% of serotypes. However, their efficacy is diminished in the context of Streptococcus pneumoniae – influenza virus co-infections, known as superinfections, and they do not protect against infections caused by the remaining 80% of non-vaccine serotypes.

Conserved protein antigens, rather than capsule polysaccharides, represent a promising avenue for a universal vaccine. Using CRISPRi-seq in a superinfection model, the conserved gene LafB was identified as vital for virulence. LafB, a highly conserved membrane-associated protein, catalyzes the formation of a glycolipid crucial for cell wall homeostasis.

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