Recent approaches in whole cell pneumococcal vaccine development: a review study

Despite the availability of relatively effective vaccines, Streptococcus pneumoniae still causes widespread morbidity and mortality. Current vaccines contain free polysaccharides or protein-polysaccharide conjugates, but do not induce protection against serotypes that are not included in the vaccines. Therefore, developing alternative vaccines is of high priority and importance. Several investigators have identified protective antigens common to pneumococci of many or all serotypes. Malley et al. in their study, have recommended unencapsulated whole cells, as an alternative vaccine, a number of such antigens unoccluded by capsule were presented in a native configuration in 2001. This review aimed at presenting this candidate of pneumococcal vaccine and results in an animal model.