Structure-based design of broadly protective group a streptococcal M protein-based vaccines

Highlights • emm clusters were used as the basis for structure-based design of vaccines. • 3-D structures and physicochemical properties identified five M peptides representing 17 emm types. • Pentavalent synthetic peptide vaccine antibodies reacted with all 17 M peptides in the cluster. • Vaccine antibodies promoted bactericidal activity against 15/17 streptococcal emm types. • Structure-based design may result in broadly protective group A streptococcal vaccines.