Immune response to pneumococcal vaccine in mothers to infants with group B streptococcal septicemia: evidence for a divergent IgG/IgM ratio.
Eight women who had given birth to infants contracting neonatal septicemia with group B streptococci (GBS) were immunized with a 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax). Type-specific IgM and IgG antibodies against 6 pneumococcal types were determined before and after vaccination. Ten healthy age-matched women were also vaccinated and served as controls. The study group showed significantly higher preimmune IgM levels against 3 of the 6 pneumococcal antigens, and lower IgG levels against 1 antigen. However, 6 weeks as well as 11/2 years after the immunization, no significant differences in IgG or IgM antibody levels could be demonstrated between the 2 groups. Before vaccination, significantly more study group women showed an arbitrary IgG/IgM ratio below 10 against pneumococcal types 1, 6A, 7F, 14 and 23F. 11/2 years after vaccination, the ratio was significantly lower for antibodies against 2 other types, 6A and 7F. We suggest, as a working hypothesis, that mothers of GBS-infected infants differ in their capacity to switch from IgM to IgG production.
D000917:Antibody Formation; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D013997:Time Factors
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines