The Immunity to Streptococcus pyogenes Network

The Immunity to () Network aims to determine the key requirements for a successful immune response to Streptococcus pyogenes. Our subnetworks utilise natural infection studies and controlled human challenge models to map , guiding future vaccine development to prevent diseases like .

Our Approach

Our Subnetworks

Uniting global expertise to identify the correlates of protective immunity to Streptococcus pyogenes.

iSpy-LIFE

Natural Immunity

Uses natural infection and experiments of nature to dissect out what constitutes a protective immune response. By studying cohorts across the life course, we track the organic development of immunity following routine exposure to the pathogen.

• Natural infection longitudinal models
• Sero-epidemiological data collection
• Natural correlates of protection

Life-Course Cohorts

iSpy-EXPLORE

Challenge & Vaccines

Uses human challenge and immunisation models to understand what makes a protective immune response. Through highly controlled human challenge models, we analyse the course of infection in real-time under ethically managed conditions.

• Controlled Human Infection Models ()
• Vaccine candidate track trials
• Preclinical immune tracking

Experimental Medicine

Methodologies for Interrogating Streptococcus pyogenes

The iSpy Network applies a harmonised suite of cutting-edge laboratory methodologies to uncover the mechanics of protective immunity, leveraging both longitudinal natural infection studies and strictly controlled human challenge models.

Antibody & Serological Platforms

Repertoire Interrogation

High-Resolution Serological Profiling

Using high-resolution and multiplex bead-based immunoassays, we map antibody repertoires following both natural infection and experimental vaccination. These platforms allow us to precisely quantify functional endpoints, such as antibody-induced opsonophagocytosis and killing ().

Systems Antigenomics

Quantitative Proteomic Discovery

By bridging structural biology with quantitative mass spectrometry, we identify conserved targets across the pathogen's pan-proteome. This granular data isolates protective epitopes from human antibody repertoires, directly informing the rational design of multivalent nanoparticle immunogens.

Methodologies are supported by key partners, including Antigen Discovery Inc. (), to deploy bespoke, high-density antigen microarrays.

T Cell & Cellular Platforms

Cellular Atlas Mapping

High-Dimensional Response Tracking

Through spectral flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing (), we profile both conventional and unconventional T cell populations. This deep phenotyping isolates the specific cellular signatures and activation markers that drive long-term protection against the pathogen.

Ex Vivo Modeling

Tonsil Organoid Systems

The mucosal barrier is the primary site of infection. By stimulating primary, donor-derived tonsil organoids with conserved S. pyogenes antigens, we recreate and study upper respiratory tract immunity exactly as it develops over the human lifespan.

Systematic Epitope Mapping

Comprehensive Antigen Profiling

We systematically map T cell epitopes across hundreds of S. pyogenes proteins from diverse global strains. Leveraging resources like the Immune Epitope Database (), this comprehensive profiling targets immunodominant regions vital for broad, cross-protective vaccine coverage.