title: Placental and breast transfer of antibodies after maternal immunization with polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine: a randomized, controlled evaluation.
abstract: We evaluated the strategy of maternal immunization with Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) vaccine in Asian mothers, to assess potential protection of infants, including by breast milk. One hundred and fifty-seven women in the third trimester were randomized to receive a single dose of the polysaccharide Nm (n=75) or a control vaccine (n=82). Group A Nm IgG levels were measured in maternal and infant sera, and specific IgA in breast milk. A 5.6-fold rise of Nm IgG antibody was observed among the Nm vaccinees. At delivery, geometric mean titres (GMTs) of Nm IgG antibody in Nm mothers was 12.5 microg/ml versus 4.97 microg/ml, with a mean infant/maternal antibody ratio of 0.56. Infants of Nm vaccinees had mean IgG levels of 6.9, 2.3, 1.2 and 0.6 microg/ml at 0, 6, 14 and 22 weeks, significantly higher than in control children up to 14 weeks. Anti-Nm IgA levels in milk were 6.8 to 2.0 microg/ml, significantly higher in Nm vaccinees till 6 months. Immunization during pregnancy is safe for both mothers and infants, and provides infants with significantly increased levels of specific IgG for 2-3 months and oral IgA for 6 months.
authors: Child Health Programme, Public Health Sciences Division, ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh. nshahid@icddrb.org
authors: Nigar S
authors: NS
authors: Shahid
authors: Mark C
authors: MC
authors: Steinhoff
authors: Eliza
authors: E
authors: Roy
authors: Tahmina
authors: T
authors: Begum
authors: Claudette M
authors: CM
authors: Thompson
authors: George R
authors: GR
authors: Siber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D001940:Breast / Q000276:immunology*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines