Pathobiont-driven antibody sialylation through IL-10 undermines vaccination

The pathobiont Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) induces nonprotective antibody imprints that underlie ineffective staphylococcal vaccination. However, the mechanism by which Sa modifies antibody activity is not clear. Herein, we demonstrate that IL-10 is the decisive factor that abrogates antibody protection in mice. Sa-induced B10 cells drive antigen-specific vaccine suppression that affects both recalled and de novo developed B cells. Released IL-10 promotes STAT3 binding upstream of the gene encoding sialyltransferase ST3gal4 and increases its expression by B cells, leading to hyper-α2,3sialylation of antibodies and loss of protective activity. IL-10 enhances α2,3sialylation on cell-wall–associated IsdB, IsdA, and MntC antibodies along with suppression of the respective Sa vaccines. Consistent with mouse findings, human anti-Sa antibodies as well as anti-pseudomonal antibodies from cystic fibrosis subjects (high IL-10) are hypersialylated, compared with anti–Streptococcus pyogenes and pseudomonal antibodies from normal individuals. Overall, we demonstrate a pathobiont-centric mechanism that modulates antibody glycosylation through IL-10, leading to loss of staphylococcal vaccine efficacy.