Korean red ginseng enhances pneumococcal Δpep27 vaccine efficacy by inhibiting reactive oxygen species production

Streptococcus pneumoniae, more than 90 serotypes of which exist, is recognized as an etiologic agent of pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Immunization with a pneumococcal pep27 mutant (Δpep27) has been shown to confer comprehensive, long-term protection against even non-typeable strains. However, Δpep27 is only effective as a vaccine after at least 3 rounds of immunization. Therefore, treatments capable of enhancing the efficiency of Δpep27 immunization should be identified without delay.