Passive immunity in Helicobacter-challenged neonatal mice conferred by immunized dams lasts until weaning.
The objective of this study was to examine the effect of breast-feeding by immunized dams on Helicobacter colonization in newborns. Urease-based immunization regimens failed to protect nursing pups against H. felis, whereas H. felis lysate-cholera toxin resulted in protection. This observation correlated with a high recognition of cell surface-expressed bacterial antigens by milk antibodies. Protection lasted until weaning, indicating that infection is maintained at undetectable levels by passive immunity but then resumes when breast-feeding stops.
Corthésy-Theulaz
Irène
I
Division of Gastroenterology, Nestlé Research Center, CHUV Lausanne, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland. irene.corthesy@rdls.nestle.com
Corthésy
Blaise
B
Bachmann
Daniel
D
Velin
Dominique
D
Kraehenbuhl
Jean-Pierre
JP
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000276:immunology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology; D014510:Urease / Q000276:immunology; D014886:Weaning
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D014510:Urease