title: Prospects for overcoming maturational and genetic barriers to the human antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae type b.
abstract: The isolated capsular polysaccharide induces antibody protective against invasive infections by H. influenzae b. Maturation of responsiveness is slow such that infants are not protected. Several protein-coupled versions of the antigen are being tested for immunogenicity in early infancy. The relation of structure to immunogenicity is not completely defined, but all induce a booster-type antibody response with protective potential. Primary vaccination in infancy appears to mimic natural priming, activating clones of B lymphocytes that can later be restimulated by uncoupled polysaccharide. Prospects appear good for immunizing normal infants and also children with immunoregulatory defects predisposing to infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York 14642.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Insel
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000145:classification; D007223:Infant; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial