Immunologic hyporesponsiveness in man to group C meningococcal polysaccharide.
By using a hemagglutination-inhibition assay, certain lots of purified group A meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines were found to contain trace amounts of group C polysaccharide (0.032 to 0.128%). Young adult human volunteers inoculated with these vaccines showed a very poor group C serum anti-polysaccharide antibody response as determined by a radioactive antigen-binding assay. Two weeks later volunteers were given a 50-mug subcutaneous injection of purified group C polysaccharide. Serum specimens obtained 1 month later showed a significant suppression of group C antibody response in comparison with subjects who had initially received group A vaccines which were free of group C antigen. The observed hyporesponsiveness may represent an example of immunologic tolerance in man.
D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004356:Drug Storage; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012703:Serotyping
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial