title: Duration of antibody response after meningococcal polysaccharide vaccination in US Air Force personnel.
abstract: The long-term kinetics of the immunologic response after vaccination of adults with Neisseria meningitidis polysaccharide vaccine is unknown. Total meningococcal anti-capsular antibody response (measured by ELISA) and serum bactericidal activity after routine vaccination with quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine were evaluated in US Air Force personnel. In a retrospective cross-sectional study, blood samples were obtained from approximately 40 personnel before vaccination, at 1 and 4-6 months, and at 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years after vaccination. Total anti-group A and -group C capsular antibody levels and bactericidal activity peaked 1 month after vaccination and declined substantially by 2 years. At each interval, significantly higher levels of total antibody and bactericidal activity were detected than before vaccination. Anti-capsular antibodies and bactericidal activity persisted for up to 10 years after immunization. These and further studies on the serologic measure of protection against meningococcal disease are important for evaluation of candidate vaccines and development of recommendations for immunization.
authors.affiliation: Childhood and Respiratory Diseases Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Zangwill
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Stout
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Carlone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pais
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harekeh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Blackwood
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Plikaytis
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wenger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D044383:Black People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D008889:Military Personnel; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines