No compelling evidence that vaccination with streptococcus pyogenes group A carbohydrate elicits cross-reactive rheumatic fever autoantibodies

Parks T., Cunningham MW., Saul A.

Abstract We reviewed 70 years of research defining the specificity of anti-group A carbohydrate (GAC) monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and antibodies raised against other S. pyogenes components reacting with GAC. While some rheumatic fever associated autoantibodies react with N-Acetyl-β-D-glucosamine sidechains of GAC and cross-react with tissues, these appear to be a consequence, not the cause, of autoimmunity. We propose GAC be considered further as a broadly protective group A streptococcal vaccine.

DOI

10.1038/s41541-025-01272-0

Type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Publication Date

2025-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

10

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