title: The impact of incomplete vaccination schedules on the magnitude and duration of protective antigen-specific IgG responses in recipients of the US licensed anthrax vaccine.
abstract: Using a cross-sectional analysis design, we measured serum anti-protective antigen (PA) concentrations in individuals receiving six or fewer US licensed anthrax vaccinations. Samples were collected from 363 individuals with a mean of 29.6+/-8.42 months after their last vaccination (range 3-57 months). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed and validated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was used to evaluate the range and status of anthrax vaccine-induced serum antibody concentrations. A significant correlation (r=0.73, P< or =0.001) was found to exist between the number of vaccinations received and specific anti-PA immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations. We observed two discrete groups comprised of one to three doses (5.9-11.7 microg/ml) and four to six doses (26.2-30.2 microg/ml). These data indicate that anti-PA IgG is present at low but detectable levels after as few as two vaccinations (5.9+/-6.43 microg/ml). These findings may have significance for anthrax vaccine recipients who are unable to complete the primary or full regimen with this licensed product.
authors.affiliation: Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research, Great Lakes, 310A B-street, Building 1H, Great Lakes, IL 60088-5259, United States.
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lininger
authors.forename: Malford E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cullum
authors.forename: Mark B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lyles
authors.forename: Diane R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bienek
mesh_terms: D000881:Anthrax / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022122:Anthrax Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008889:Military Personnel; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D022122:Anthrax Vaccines; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C030325:anthrax toxin