# MECHANISMS OF HOST RESISTANCE OF GROUP B STREPTOCOCCI

> **NIH NIH R01** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 1991 · $111,191

## Abstract

Group B streptococci(GBS) are a major cause of serious
morbidity and mortality in neonates, pregnant females and other
immunocompromised hosts.  In previous studies we have shown that
fibronectin(FN) enhances phagocytic uptake of antibody coated GBS
and offers protective activity against these organisms in a neonatal
rat model.  The present investigations will examine the mechanism
of FN's effect by determining if the cell binding amino acid
sequence RGDS of the molecule is responsible for this effect.  These
will be the first studies on the role of this tetrapeptide in
protection against a microbial pathogen and the first to examine its
role in vivo.  We believe that optimal immunotherapy of neonatal GBS
disease may involve the administration of FN or a multivalent RGDS
ligand along with antibody to the group B streptococcus.
     We have described an enzymatic activity on the majority of
strains of GBS that inactivates the chemotactic activity of the
major chemoattractant derived from the complement system, C5a.
The GBS C5a-ase cleaves a 7 residue, approximately 650 kD fragment
from the carboxy terminal of the molecule which prevents it from
binding to phagocytic cells.  We plan to purify this enzyme to
homogeneity, produce polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to it and
examine its role in the inflammatory response to GBS infection in
an animal model. characterized enzyme that inactivates C5a clearly
has the, A purified potential for additional experimental and
therapeutic applications.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125391
- **Project number:** 2R01AI013150-14
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LL8GLEVH6MG3
- **Principal Investigator:** HARRY R HILL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $111,191
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1977-01-01 → 1994-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125391

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125391, MECHANISMS OF HOST RESISTANCE OF GROUP B STREPTOCOCCI (2R01AI013150-14). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125391. Licensed CC0.

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