Abstract
BackgroundMaternal antibody is the major form of protection against disease in early life; however, its presence interferes with active immunization of offspring. In order to overcome the immunosuppression caused by maternal antibody, several immune strategies were explored in this paper using mouse model and influenza vaccines.ResultsThe results showed that: i) when the offspring were immunized with the same vaccine as their mothers, whether inactivated or DNA vaccine, the presence of maternal antibody inhibited offspring immune response and the offspring could not be protected from a lethal influenza virus infection; ii) when the offspring, born to mothers immunized with inactivated vaccine, were immunized with NA DNA vaccine, the interference of maternal antibody were overcome and the offspring could survive a lethal virus challenge; iii) when the offspring were immunized with different DNA vaccine from that for their mothers, the interference of maternal antibody were also overcome. In addition, high-dose inactivated vaccine in maternal immunization caused partial inhibition in offspring when the offspring were immunized with HA DNA vaccine, while lower dose caused no significant immunosuppression.ConclusionTo avoid the interference of maternal antibody in influenza vaccination of offspring, mothers and their offspring shall not be immunized with the same vaccine. If mothers are immunized with inactivated vaccine, NA DNA vaccine for the offspring shall be effective; and if mothers are immunized with HA (NA) DNA, NA (HA) DNA for the offspring shall be effective.
Highlights
Maternal antibody is the major form of protection against disease in early life; its presence interferes with active immunization of offspring
We explored the interference of maternal antibody in offspring immune response to influenza vaccines as well as the immune strategy to overcome the interference
We found that, when the offspring were immunized with the same vaccine as their mothers, whether inactivated or DNA vaccine, the active immune response in offspring would be inhibited by the presence of maternal antibody
Summary
Maternal antibody is the major form of protection against disease in early life; its presence interferes with active immunization of offspring. In order to overcome the immunosuppression caused by maternal antibody, several immune strategies were explored in this paper using mouse model and influenza vaccines. Because of the immaturity of immune system, effective immune response could not be induced in newborns and vaccination in this age group could (page number not for citation purposes). The presence of the maternal antibody inhibits the offspring immune response to specific antigen [5,6,7], and the long-lasting immunosuppression often delays the vaccination of the offspring. A period susceptible to influenza exists when the maternal antibody titer is too low to provide immunoprotection but is enough to inhibit the active immune response to vaccines. It is necessary to develop an effective immune strategy to overcome the immunosuppression caused by maternal antibody
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