title: The association between age and the development of respiratory syncytial virus neutralising antibody responses following natural infection in infants.
abstract: To determine the age at which infants mount significant neutralising antibody responses to both natural RSV infection and live vaccines that mimic natural infection, RSV-specific neutralising antibodies in the acute and convalescent phase sera of infants with RSV infection were assayed. Age-specific incidence estimates for hospitalisation with severe RSV disease were determined and compared to age-specific neutralising antibody response patterns. Disease incidence peaked at between 2 and 3.9 months of life. Following natural infection, relative to the mean acute phase antibody titre, the mean convalescent titre was lower in the 0-1.9 month age class, no different in the 2-3.9 month age class and greater in all age classes greater than 4 months. These data suggest effective vaccination with live vaccines that mimic natural infection may not be achieved before the age of 4 months. Maternal vaccination may be an alternative to direct infant vaccination in order to protect very young babies.
authors.affiliation: KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya. Electronic address: csande@kemri-wellcome.org.
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sande
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cane
authors.affiliation: KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya; School of Life Sciences and WIDER, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nokes
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines
keywords: Immunity; Neutralising antibody; Respiratory syncytial virus