RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Hollingshead, Susan K. A1 Baril, Laurence A1 Ferro, Santiago A1 King, Janice A1 Coan, Pat A1 Briles, David E. A1 the Pneumococcal Proteins Epi Study GroupYR 2006 T1 Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) family distribution among clinical isolates from adults over 50 years of age collected in seven countries JF Journal of Medical Microbiology, VO 55 IS 2 SP 215 OP 221 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.46268-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1473-5644, AB The pneumococcal surface protein PspA, a cell-wall-associated surface protein, is a promising component for pneumococcal vaccines. In this study, the distribution of the PspA family was determined in a panel of invasive and clinically important pneumococcal isolates from adults over 50 years of age, collected between 1995 and 2002. One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven recent isolates from invasive pneumococcal disease were obtained from seven Western countries, together with clinical data. An ELISA-based serological method was standardized in order to determine the PspA family and clade distribution. Molecular tests were used when isolates were non-typable by ELISA (PspA family typing by PCR). Only 42 (2·3 %) isolates were non-typable by ELISA and PspA family typing by PCR was performed. Finally, 3 isolates were considered as non-pneumococcal and 1844 were classified as follows: 749 (40·6 %) were PspA family 1, 1078 (58·5 %) were PspA family 2, 13 (0·7 %) were PspA family 1 and 2 and 4 (0·2 %) remained non-typable. The cross-reactivity of antibodies to PspAs of different clades was confirmed. In conclusion, inclusion of PspA family 1 and family 2 in future pneumococcal vaccines would ensure broad coverage of pneumococcal strains infecting people over 50 years of age., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.46268-0