title: The acquisition of anti-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide Haemophilus influenzae type b and tetanus toxoid antibodies, with age, in the UK.
abstract: Antibody levels specific for capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and to tetanus toxoid (TT), were measured in serum samples of 750 age-stratified subjects from the UK. The study subjects comprised healthy adult volunteers and hospitalized children undergoing elective surgery, excluding those with a history of infection or under investigation for immunological or haematological disorders. These antibody levels were calibrated by comparison with serum pool obtained from healthy adult volunteers, who were immunized with Hib polyribose-phosphate vaccine (Merieux). The data are intended to provide reference ranges to assist in the interpretation of specific antibody measurements in the clinical setting. Maternal IgG pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PCP) specific antibody levels, geometric-mean titre (GMT) 1/22, were lost by 6 months of age (GMT of 1/9). They remained low until 3-5 years (GMT of 1/20), and consisted principally of IgG1. Thereafter, IgG anti-PCP antibody titres increased steadily to adult levels (GMT of 1/275), of which 80% was IgG2. Anti-PCP antibody titres of the IgM isotype rose steadily from a GMT 1/21 (0-6 months) to 1/420 (3-5 years), a level which was maintained until adulthood. Anti-Hib antibody concentrations, determined by RABA, again demonstrated the decline in maternal antibody, from 0.18 micrograms/ml in the 0-6 month age cohort, to 0.09 microgram/ml between 6 and 12 months. Geometric-mean antibody concentrations remained below 0.2 micrograms/ml until 3-5 years, then increased with age, attaining the mean adult level of 1.02 micrograms/ml. Anti-TT antibody concentrations were measured in the same sera, by ELISA. Two peaks in anti-TT antibody levels were seen in children of 0.059 IU/ml and 0.166 IU/ml corresponding to the schedule of routine childhood immunization in the first year and at 5 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Medical School, Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hazlewood
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nusrat
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kumararatne
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goodall
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raykundalia
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milford-Ward
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pahor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000145:classification; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid