Anti-staphylococcal humoral immune response in persistent nasal carriers and noncarriers of Staphylococcus aureus.
BACKGROUND
Persistent carriers have a higher risk of Staphylococcus aureus infections than noncarriers but a lower risk of bacteremia-related death. Here, the role played by anti-staphylococcal antibodies was studied.


METHODS
Serum samples from 15 persistent carriers and 19 noncarriers were analyzed for immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, and IgM binding to 19 S. aureus antigens, by means of Luminex technology. Nasal secretions and serum samples obtained after 6 months were also analyzed.


RESULTS
Median serum IgG levels were significantly higher in persistent carriers than in noncarriers for toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST)-1 (median fluorescence intensity [MFI] value, 11,554 vs. 4291; P < .001) and staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) A (742 vs. 218; P < .05); median IgA levels were higher for TSST-1 (P < .01), SEA, and clumping factor (Clf) A and B (P < .05). The in vitro neutralizing capacity of anti-TSST-1 antibodies was correlated with the MFI value (R(2) = 0.93) and was higher in persistent carriers (90.6% vs. 70.6%; P < .05). Antibody levels were stable over time and correlated with levels in nasal secretions (for IgG, R(2) = 0.87; for IgA, R(2) = 0.77).


CONCLUSIONS
Antibodies to TSST-1 have a neutralizing capacity, and median levels of antibodies to TSST-1, SEA, ClfA, and ClfB are higher in persistent carriers than in noncarriers. These antibodies might be associated with the differences in the risk and outcome of S. aureus infections between nasal carriers and noncarriers.
Verkaik
Nelianne J
NJ
Departments of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. verkaik@erasmusmc.nl
de Vogel
Corné P
CP
Boelens
Hélène A
HA
Grumann
Dorothee
D
Hoogenboezem
Theo
T
Vink
Cornelis
C
Hooijkaas
Herbert
H
Foster
Timothy J
TJ
Verbrugh
Henri A
HA
van Belkum
Alex
A
van Wamel
Willem J B
WJ
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal