Correlation between low levels of maternal IgG antibodies to R protein and neonatal septicemia with group B streptococci carrying R protein.
A method was designed for quantitation of serum antibodies to R protein in group B streptococci (GBS). Four sera from mothers of infants with neonatal septicemia caused by type II, R+ GBS showed a binding range from 400 to 740 cpm in contrast to a range of 690-1,220 cpm in 5 parturients carrying type II, R+ strains in the urogenital tract giving birth to healthy infants (p less than 0.05). The range of antibodies in sera from 8 mothers to infants infected with GBS type III,R+ was 370-750 cpm, whereas the range in sera from 10 carriers of type III,R+ giving birth to healthy infants varied between 510 and 1,280 cpm (p less than 0.01). These findings indicate that R protein is an important virulence factor in neonatal GBS septicemia/meningitis.
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011815:R Factors; D011817:Rabbits; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G