title: Maturation of immunoglobulin G avidity after rubella vaccination studied by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (avidity-ELISA) and by haemolysis typing.
abstract: Two tests were introduced recently for assessment of the avidity of rubella immunoglobulin antibodies. In the quantitative test--avidity-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)--IgG antibodies obtained from individuals shortly after primary infection with rubella virus are distinguished from those with past immunity by their antigen-elution characteristics. This method uses agents that disrupt hydrophobic bonds in proteins [Kamoun PP (1988): Denaturation of globular proteins by urea: Breakdown of hydrophobic bonds? Trends in Biological Sciences 13:424-425.]. In the semiquantitative, presumptive test--haemolysis typing--the low-avidity rubella-IgG antibodies are distinguished from the high-avidity antibodies by the quality of their haemolytic zones in a radial haemolysis test. In the present study, both tests were applied to sera taken before and after vaccination with two different strains (Cendehill or RA 27/3) of live attenuated rubella virus. It was found that after vaccination of previously nonimmune subjects, IgG synthesized during the first 2 months had a very low avidity; IgG avidity increased dramatically during the subsequent 4 months and less markedly between 6 and 12 months after vaccination. On the contrary, the initially high IgG avidity of previous immune vaccinees remained at an elevated level postvaccination. These results provide a basis for identification of recent primary rubella virus infections, or vaccination reactions, by the avidity of specific IgG and also for their separation from rubella reinfections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hedman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hietala
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiilikainen
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hartikainen-Sorri
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Räihä
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Väänänen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pietiläinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D012409:Rubella / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated