Successful vaccine-induced seroconversion by single-dose immunization in the presence of measles virus-specific maternal antibodies.
In humans, maternal antibodies inhibit successful immunization against measles, because they interfere with vaccine-induced seroconversion. We have investigated this problem using the cotton rat model (Sigmodon hispidus). As in humans, passively transferred antibodies inhibit the induction of measles virus (MV)-neutralizing antibodies and protection after immunization with MV. In contrast, a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) expressing the MV hemagglutinin (VSV-H) induces high titers of neutralizing antibodies to MV in the presence of MV-specific antibodies. The induction of neutralizing antibodies increased with increasing virus dose, and all doses gave good protection from subsequent challenge with MV. Induction of antibodies by VSV-H was observed in the presence of passively transferred human or cotton rat antibodies, which were used as the models of maternal antibodies. Because MV hemagglutinin is not a functional part of the VSV-H envelope, MV-specific antibodies only slightly inhibit VSV-H replication in vitro. This dissociation of function and antigenicity is probably key to the induction of a neutralizing antibody in the presence of a maternal antibody.
Schlereth
B
B
Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Wuerzburg, 97078 Wurzburg, Germany.
Rose
J K
JK
Buonocore
L
L
ter Meulen
V
V
Niewiesk
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D051381:Rats; D016205:Sigmodontinae; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C032397:hemagglutinin protein G, measles virus