Reverse and structural vaccinology approach to design a highly immunogenic multi-epitope subunit vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a pathogen that resides in the upper respiratory tract of healthy individuals, maintaining a commensal relationship with its host. However, the virulent form may be the etiology of pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia, and other respiratory tract infections. Streptococcal diseases are preventable by vaccination; but currently available vaccines have some drawbacks, especially due to the high capsule variability of streptococci strains.