The kinetics of antibody production to antigens of Escherichia coli O157 in a pregnant woman with haemolytic uraemic syndrome.
Sequential blood samples taken from a pregnant woman with haemolytic uraemic syndrome caused by verocytotoxin (VT)-producing Escherichia coli O157 were used to examine the kinetics of serum antibody production to E. coli O157 lipopolysaccharide (LPS), intimin and the conserved region of the translocated intimin receptor (Tir-M). Umbilical cord blood and two samples of blood from the newborn baby were also examined for antibodies to these antigens. In the mother, antibodies of the IgM class, specific for E. coli O157 LPS, were produced in the initial stages of the infection, reaching a peak at 9 days after onset of diarrhoea and subsiding 3 days later. High levels of IgG class antibodies, specific for E. coli O157 LPS, were detected 8 days after the onset of diarrhoea and were present at high titres on day 18. Serum antibodies of the IgA class to E. coli O157 LPS were not detected. Antibodies binding to Tir-M were detected 8 days after the onset of diarrhoea and high titres of these antibodies were still present on day 18. Serum antibodies to intimin were not detected in the mother and no antibodies to any of the antigens tested were detected in either the baby's blood or cord blood. This study describes for the first time the kinetics of serum antibody production during pregnancy, to selected antigens expressed by E. coli O157.
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Henrik
H
Perry
Neil T
NT
Cheasty
Thomas
T
Wright
Peter A
PA
Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Division of Gastrointestinal Infections, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HT and *Public Health Laboratory, Royal Preston Hospital, PO Box 202, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs PR2 9HG.
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000276:immunology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D022603:Shiga Toxins; C109287:Tir protein, E coli; C073819:eaeA protein, E coli