title: Protection of pregnant mice, fetuses and neonates from lethality of H5N1 influenza viruses by maternal vaccination.
abstract: The highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses are one of candidates for the next pandemic. Information on protective immunity for pregnant animals by vaccination against the H5N1 influenza virus is limited. Here, we show that the immunization of pregnant mice with inactivated H5N1 influenza vaccine protects them, their fetuses, and their infant mice from H5N1 influenza viruses. Pregnant mice immunized with two doses of H5N1 influenza vaccine were protected from homologous infections of H5N1 influenza viruses with no viruses detected in fetuses, and that they were protected upto 30% from heterologous infections of H5N1 influenza viruses with viruses detected in fetuses. The infant mice born to mothers immunized with H5N1 influenza vaccine were fully protected from infections of H5N1 influenza viruses for upto 4 weeks of age. The protection of infant mice was closely related to the presence of IgG2a antibody in lung, heart, and rectum tissues. Our results suggest that maternal vaccination may be critical for protecting pregnant animals, their fetuses, and their infant mice from lethal infections of H5N1 influenza viruses.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Influenza Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-764, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Keun Bon
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Whan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sang Heui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001769:Blood / Q000276:immunology; D056738:Cross Protection; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000379:methods; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009206:Myocardium / Q000276:immunology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012007:Rectum / Q000276:immunology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated