Population differences in immune responses to Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination in infancy.
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination induces a marked increase in the interferon (IFN)-gamma response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis purified protein derivative (Mtb PPD) in UK adolescents, but not in Malawian adolescents. We hypothesized that Mtb PPD-induced IFN-gamma after BCG vaccination would be similar in infants from these 2 countries. Infants were vaccinated with BCG during the first 3-13 weeks of life. Three months after BCG vaccination, 51 (100%) of 51 UK infants had an IFN-gamma response to Mtb PPD, compared to 41 (53%) of 78 of Malawian infants, in whom responses varied according to their season of birth. We conclude that population differences in immune responses after BCG vaccination are observed among infants, as well as among young adults.
Immunology Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom. maeve.lalor@lshtm.ac.uk
Maeve K
MK
Lalor
Anne
A
Ben-Smith
Patricia
P
Gorak-Stolinska
Rosemary E
RE
Weir
Sian
S
Floyd
Rose
R
Blitz
Hazzie
H
Mvula
Melanie J
MJ
Newport
Keith
K
Branson
Nuala
N
McGrath
Amelia C
AC
Crampin
Paul E M
PE
Fine
Hazel M
HM
Dockrell
D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D006113:United Kingdom; D014611:Vaccination
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007371:Interferon-gamma