title: Priming of immune responses to hepatitis B surface antigen in young mice immunized in the presence of maternally derived antibodies.
abstract: Early vaccination is necessary to protect infants from various infectious diseases. However, this is often unsuccessful largely due to the immaturity of the neonatal immune system. Furthermore, maternally derived antibodies can interfere with active immunization. We have previously shown in young mice that immune responses against several different antigens can be improved by the addition of oligodeoxynucleotides containing immunostimulatory CpG motifs (CpG ODN). In this study we have evaluated immunization of newborn (1-7-day-old) BALB/c mice against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), with alum and/or CpG ODN, in the presence of high levels of maternal antibody against HBsAg (anti-HBs). Seroconversion rates and anti-HBs titers were compared to those induced by a HBsAg-expressing plasmid, since other studies had suggested DNA vaccines to be superior to protein vaccines in young mice with maternal antibody. HBsAg/alum/CpG ODN was superior to DNA vaccine in inducing HBsAg-specific CTL responses in young mice in the presence of maternally transferred anti-HBs antibodies. However, B cell responses to both HBsAg/alum/CpG ODN and DNA vaccines remained weak in the presence of maternally transferred anti-HBs antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Coley Pharmaceutical Canada, 725 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa ON, Canada K1Y 4E9. rweeratna@coleycanada.com
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Weeratna
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Brazolot Millan
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McCluskie
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Siegrist
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; C423449:CpG ODN 1826; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C041524:aluminum sulfate; D004247:DNA