Anthrax post-vaccinal cell-mediated immunity in humans: kinetics pattern.
Seven groups (2596 subjects) were vaccinated with a human live anthrax vaccine (HLAV) by three different routes (scarification, subcutaneous and aerosol). The vaccinees were tested for anthrax cell-mediated immunity using the "Anthraxin" skin test at 7, 15, 30, 90, 180 and 365 days following vaccination. The kinetic pattern obtained from all groups, shows a significant, five-phased curve: phase I (2-6 days post-vaccination) shows a slow increase in positive Anthraxin skin reactions. Phase II (7-15 days post-vaccination) shows an exponential rise to a maximum at day 15. Phase III (16-30 days post-vaccination) shows a decrease to day 30. Phase IV (31-90 days post-vaccination) leads to a relative restoration of the positive skin reactions. During phase V (91-365 days post-vaccination) there is a continuous decrease in positive Anthraxin skin reactions. The loss of the skin test reaction on day 30 is a characteristic feature of post vaccination anthrax cell-mediated immunity. It may be due to a blockade of macrophages by lethal anthrax toxin released by the multiplying vaccine strain. Epidemiological observations of HLAV protective rates correlate with the phases of the skin reaction kinetics.
Shlyakhov
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E
Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Rubinstein
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E
Novikov
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I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000276:immunology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; C030325:anthrax toxin; C006594:anthraxin