title: Natural Development of Antibodies against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis Protein Antigens during the First 13 Years of Life.
abstract: Conserved protein antigens have been investigated as vaccine candidates against respiratory pathogens. We evaluated the natural development of antibodies against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis proteins during childhood. Serum samples were collected from 50 healthy children from their first months to age 13 years (median sampling interval, 6 months). We also analyzed serum samples from 24 adults. Serum IgG antibodies against eight pneumococcal proteins (Ply, CbpA, PspA 1 and 2, PcpA, PhtD, StkP-C, and PcsB-N), three H. influenzae proteins, and five M. catarrhalis proteins were measured using a multiplexed bead-based immunoassay. Antibody levels were analyzed using multilevel mixed-effects regression and Spearman's correlation. Antibody levels against pneumococcal proteins peaked at 3 to 5 years of age and then reached a plateau. Antibody levels against H. influenzae proteins peaked during the second year and then stabilized. Antibody levels against M. catarrhalis proteins peaked during the first year and then slowly decreased. Peak antibody levels during childhood were higher than those of adults. Correlations among pneumococcal antibody levels were highest among anti-CbpA, anti-PcpA, and anti-PhtD antibodies (r = 0.71 to 0.75; P < 0.001). The children presented 854 symptomatic respiratory infections on 586 occasions. Symptomatic respiratory infections did not improve prediction of antibody levels in the regression model. The maturation of immune responses against the investigated pneumococcal proteins shares similarities, especially among CbpA, PcpA, and PhtD. Antibody production against H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis proteins starts early in life and reaches peak levels earlier than antibody production against the pneumococcal proteins. Basal antibody levels are not related to the occurrence of symptomatic respiratory infections.
authors: Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia School of Medicine, Salvador, Brazil igorcms@gmail.com.
authors: Igor C
authors: IC
authors: Borges
authors: Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia School of Medicine, Salvador, Brazil.
authors: Dafne C
authors: DC
authors: Andrade
authors: Department of Epidemiology, University of São Paulo School of Public Health, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Maria Regina A
authors: MR
authors: Cardoso
authors: Department of Physiology, University of Turku and Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors: Jorma
authors: J
authors: Toppari
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors: Mari
authors: M
authors: Vähä-Mäkilä
authors: Immunogenetics Laboratory, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors: Jorma
authors: J
authors: Ilonen
authors: Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland, and Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors: Mikael
authors: M
authors: Knip
authors: Department of Virology, University of Tampere, and Fimlab Laboratories, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere, Finland.
authors: Heikki
authors: H
authors: Hyöty
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Research Center, PEDEGO Research Unit, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors: Riitta
authors: R
authors: Veijola
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors: Olli
authors: O
authors: Simell
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors: Tuomas
authors: T
authors: Jartti
authors: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Käyhty
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors: Olli
authors: O
authors: Ruuskanen
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Bahia School of Medicine, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors: Cristiana M
authors: CM
authors: Nascimento-Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000276:immunology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial