Reduced trans-placental transfer of group B Streptococcus surface protein antibodies in HIV-infected mother-newborn dyads

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of maternal HIV infection on transplacental antibody transfer specific to 8 group B Streptococcus (GBS) surface proteins among 81 HIV-uninfected and 83 HIV-infected mother-newborn pairs using a multiplex immunoassay. Significantly lower antibody titers were detected in HIV-infected mothers and HIV-exposed uninfected newborns compared to HIV-uninfected mother-newborn dyads. Maternal HIV infection was also associated with reduced transplacental transfer of antibodies for Sip (25.8%), Foldase (30.4%), gba0392 (36.5%), gbs0393 (32.9%), gbs1539 (39.2%), gbs2106 (35.7%), and BibA (19.4%); P < .003. This reduced transplacental antibody might contribute to increased susceptibility for invasive GBS disease in HIV-exposed uninfected infants.