Escherichia coli O157 fails to induce a long-lasting lipopolysaccharide-specific, measurable humoral immune response in children with hemolytic-uremic syndrome.
Escherichia coli O157 lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific antibodies were measured in sequential serum samples from 131 children with serologically defined E. coli O157-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), using an enzyme immunoassay. On the basis of evaluation of 66 children with culture-proven E. coli O157 infection and serum samples from 132 age-matched control subjects, the assay showed a sensitivity of 95%, 88%, and 74% and a specificity of 99%, 99%, and 98% for IgM, IgA, and IgG, respectively. Anti-O157 LPS antibodies decreased below the cut-off levels in >50% of the children at 11 (IgM), 5 (IgA), and 11 weeks (IgG) after onset of diarrhea and 10, 4, and 10 weeks, respectively, after the onset of HUS. Children with enteropathic HUS fail to develop a long-lasting humoral immune response to the O157 antigen. Incomplete immunity to E. coli O157 may signal a risk for recurrent infections and has implications for serodiagnostic studies.
Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Universität Hamburg, Germany. kludwig@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Kerstin
K
Ludwig
Martin
M
Bitzan
Christoph
C
Bobrowski
Dirk E
DE
Müller-Wiefel
D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000276:immunology*; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides