Preparation of a semisynthetic vaccine to Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3.

A semisynthetic vaccine to Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 has been developed. The hexasaccharide [leads to 3)GlcpA beta(1 leads to 4)Glcp beta(1 leads to]3 was isolated from a partial acid hydrolysate of the capsular polysaccharide S3. It was coupled to stearylamine by reductamination with NaCNBH3 and then incorporated into liposomes. These haptenated liposomes were tested for immunogenicity in mice. They induced protection to a lethal dose (25 50% lethal doses) of S. pneumoniae type 3 and gave rise to immunoglobulin M antibodies. No cross-protection was observed against S. pneumoniae type 11.