Age distribution for T cell reactivity to vaccinia virus in a healthy population.
The potential for bioterrorism involving smallpox has led to a debate about the durability of protective immunity against smallpox from vaccination. By assessing the T cell reactivity to vaccinia virus in a healthy population, we show that subjects who were vaccinated within the past 3 decades and who have a visible vaccination scar had remarkable T cell reactivity. However, person who were vaccinated within the past 3 decades but who do not have a scar and those who were vaccinated >4 decades ago had responses as low as those in unvaccinated subjects. Thus, we estimate that the significant T cell memory response to vaccinia virus from successful vaccination may persist for only 20-30 years. Furthermore, we found the vaccinia-specific cellular immunity could be easily assessed by determination of the frequencies of vaccinia-specific CD69 expression on T cell subsets. These data may help in the development of public health strategies to counter bioterrorism threats associated with smallpox.
Hsieh
Szu-Min
SM
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Pan
Sung-Ching
SC
Chen
Shey-Ying
SY
Huang
Pei-Fang
PF
Chang
Shan-Chwen
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D023482:Bioterrorism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000276:immunology*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine; D000099192:CD69 Antigens