Antibodies Of Maternal Origin Research Articles

Vaccination against influenza in pregnant women – safety and effectiveness

Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. During seasonal influenza epidemics and pandemics, pregnancy places otherwise healthy women at an increased risk of complications from influenza. The factors believed to increase the susceptibility of complicated influenza infection during pregnancy are linked to the physiologic changes, including immunologic changes (attenuation of the cell-mediated immune responses, selective suppression of T-helper 1 cell mediated immunity while the adaptive humoral immunity remains unimpaired), increased cardiac output and oxygen consumption and tidal volume. Pregnant women have similar incidence of seasonal influenza as the general population, however because of the physiological changes, they are at an increased risk of complications (including secondary pneumonia, acute respiratory insufficiency increased risk of stillbirth, premature deliveries) and death. Immunization of pregnant women against influenza is currently recommended in many countries. Vaccination against influenza with trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV) has been proven to be safe and effective. Lack of harmful effect of TIV on pregnant women and newborns has been demonstrated in several studies: no increased risk of spontaneous abortions, preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital malformations, cesarean section have been reported. Vaccination against influenza has been proven to be effective in reducing rates and severity of the disease in vaccinated mothers and their children. Several studies revealed a decreased risk of influenza-like illnesses among mothers who were vaccinated during pregnancy but also a decreased risk of laboratory confirmed cases of influenza and hospitalizations due to influenza and its complications among newborns and infants born to vaccinated mothers. Currently available inactivated influenza vaccines are not licensed for use in infants younger than 6 months. Protection of young infants against the infection in early life thus requires a cocooning strategy to reduce the number of vulnerable individuals among care givers and contacts. Neonates and infants may be also protected against influenza directly by antibodies of maternal origin that cross the placenta or are transferred via breast milk. The duration of passively acquired antibodies depends on the initial blood concentration and is probably less than 6 months. Vaccine coverage among pregnant women rdmains low Possible explanations include lack of education by health care workers, the feeling among the general public that influenza is not a serious problem, and the failure of prenatal care providers to offer the vaccine. Overall, the most important factor for a woman to decide to be immunized during pregnancy was to have a clear recommendation from the health care provider Reasons evoked by obstetricians for not providing influenza vaccines included lack sufficient data on safety and efficacy concerns about the medical legal risks of vaccination during pregnancy and the perdeption that pregnant women would not want to be vaccinated. Educational intervention targeting health care workers in charge of pregnant women should be primary implemented to provide higher influenza vaccine coverage and to protect pregnant women and young infants from influenza related morbidity

Maternal antibody blocks humoral but not T cell responses to BVDV

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) contributes significantly to health-related economic losses in the beef and dairy industry. Antibodies of maternal origin can be protective against BVDV infection, however, calves with low titres of maternal antibody or that do not receive colostrum may be at risk for acute BVDV infection. Interference by high titres of maternal antibodies prevents the development of an antibody response following vaccination with either a killed or attenuated BVDV vaccine. However, the T cell mediated immune response to BVDV may be generated in the absence of a detectable serum neutralizing antibody response. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the potential to elicit T cell mediated immune responses to BVDV in calves with circulating maternal antibody to BVDV. In the first trial, calves with high levels of circulating maternal antibody to BVDV 1 and BVDV 2 were experimentally infected with BVDV 2 (strain 1373) at two to five weeks of age. The T-cell mediated immune responses of the experimentally infected calves and non-infected calves were monitored monthly until circulating maternal antibody was no longer detectable in either treatment group. Calves experimentally infected with BVDV developed BVDV specific CD4 +, CD8 +, and δ T cell responses while high levels of maternal antibody were circulating. A second challenge with BVDV 2 (strain 1373) was performed in the experimentally infected and control calves once maternal antibody could no longer be detected. Previous exposure to BVDV in the presence of maternal antibody protected calves from clinical signs of acute BVDV infection compared to the control calves. In the second trial, three groups of calves with circulating maternal antibody to BVDV were given either a modified live vaccine (MLV) containing BVDV 1 and BVDV 2, a killed vaccine containing BVDV 1 and BVDV 2, or no vaccine, at seven weeks of age. Serum neutralizing antibody levels and antigen specific T cell responses were monitored for 14 weeks following vaccination. Calves vaccinated with MLV BVDV developed BVDV 1 and BVDV 2 specific CD4 +T cell responses, and BVDV 2 specific γδ T cell responses, in the presence of maternal antibody. Vaccination with killed BVDV did not result in the generation of measurable antigen specific T cell immune responses. In this trial, a second vaccination was performed at 14 weeks to determine whether an anamnestic antibody response could be generated when calves were vaccinated in the presence of maternal antibody. Calves vaccinated with either a MLV or killed BVDV vaccine while they had maternal antibody developed an anamnestic antibody response to BVDV 2 upon subsequent vaccination. The results of these trials indicate that vaccinating young calves against BVD while maternal antibody is present may generate BVDV specific memory T and B cells. The data also demonstrated that seronegative calves with memory T and B cells specific for BVDV may be immune to challenge with virulent BVDV.

Lupus néonatal et atteinte neurologique : une association fortuite ?

Neonatal lupus erythematosus is a rare disorder characterized by cutaneous lesions of the face and/or congenital heart block. The transplacental transfer of maternal anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, or anti-U1RNP antibodies is responsible for the development of the disease. Few cases of neonatal lupus erythematosus with neurological involvement were reported in the medical literature. Case report – A 36-week GA female infant presented with neonatal lupus erythematosus comprising cutaneous, hematologic and hepatic disorders with a favorable outcome. However, cutaneous atrophy and hyperpigmentation persisted. Spastic paraparesis was diagnosed at the age of six months. Conclusion – The neurological lesions in neonatal lupus erythematosus could either be related to the presence of anti-Ro/SSA antibodies of maternal origin, or of anticardiolipin antibodies.

Transgenerational effects of maternal immune challenge in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)

The fact that avian eggs contain antibody of maternal origin is well documented, but only recently has this phenomenon been considered in an ecological context. We used tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to examine the possibility of transgenerational immunity and its effect on nestling growth and immune development. We measured cell-mediated immunity with a delayed-hypersensitivity assay and antibody-mediated immunity with a hemagglutination test with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs). We tested for differences in immunocompetence and growth between nestlings from females who had been exposed to a novel antigen prior to egg laying and nestlings from unexposed females. To determine whether the effect, if any, resulted from something transferred to the eggs prior to egg laying or from subsequent changes in parental behaviour, nestlings were exchanged so that at each nest half the nestlings were from females who had been injected with SRBCs and half were from females who had not been exposed to SRBCs. Finally, brood sizes were independently manipulated to either 4 or 6 nestlings. We failed to detect maternal antibodies in any nestlings, and whether a female was exposed to SRBCs or not had no effect on the growth or cell-mediated immunity of her brood. However, nestlings in smaller broods grew better than nestlings in larger broods, though we did not find the expected differences in cell-mediated immunity. Furthermore, within each nest, nestlings whose mothers had been exposed to SRBCs grew better than nestlings whose mothers had not been exposed. These results are contrary to the idea of a simple trade-off in the allocation of resources between parasite protection and reproduction; however, they support the idea that exposure of females to parasites prior to egg laying leads to better nestling growth, and are congruous with the possibility of mithridatic parental care.

Kinetics of humoral immune response after rabies VR-G oral vaccination of captive fox cubs ( Vulpes vulpes) with or without maternally derived antibodies against the vaccine

In western Europe during the spring, the largest proportion of fox populations are cubs and the key to successful rabies oral vaccination campaigns is cub vaccination. In this paper we report on studies of the serology of 93 fox ( Vulpes vulpes) cubs born to unvaccinated and orally vaccinated captive vixens, some of which were orally vaccinated at 30 or at 90 days of age with the vaccinia recombinant vaccine (VR-G) that expresses the rabies virus glycoprotein. The duration of cub passively acquired antibody, the development of immune responses to oral vaccination at either 30 or 90 days of age, possible interference between passive and active immunity to such vaccination and resistance to a potentially lethal rabies challenge dose when five months old were measured. The study showed that rabies neutralising antibody can be passed to their cubs by vixens orally vaccinated with VR-G during pregnancy. Maternally derived antibody titres in cubs declined with time and disappeared by 45–75 days after birth. Thirty days old cubs serologically responded to oral vaccination. No interference between antibody of maternal origin and active immunity conferred by VR-G oral vaccination or between antibody of maternal origin and protection was observed. Thus, very young cub immunisation against rabies with VR-G per os is possible whatever the immune status of their mothers. Provided a vaccine-bait suitable for such young cubs exists, oral vaccination at den entrances with VR-G is a feasibility.

Neonatal Rheumatic Disorders: View of the Pediatrician

Neonatal lupus is a unique clinical entity characterized primarily by cutaneous or cardiac injury. Dermatitis usually resolves without significant residual effects but heart block may be irreversible and life threatening during the neonatal period. SS-A/Ro and/or SS-B/La antibodies of maternal origin are present in the serum of the mother and affected infant and are markers for this syndrome. For many mothers breast feeding is the preferred choice for infant nutrition. With proper guidance, lactating mothers may safely use several antirheumatic medications such as ibuprofen, piroxicam, flurbiprofen, diclofenac, mefenamic acid, prednisone, sulfasalazine, and methotrexate.

Regulation of clonal development of immune responding cells by antibody of maternal origin.

PASSIVELY administered antibody can regulate homologous antibody production in adult animals but the mechanisms are not completely understood1. Maternal antibody transmitted to the foetus also has such an effect2. This effect is usually transient and reversible; animals regain the ability to respond to antigen after passively administered antibody is removed3,4. Adoptively transferred spleen cells from donor animals previously exposed to antibody are also able to respond normally5. Mature B and T cells seem also not to be affected by exposure to passively administered antibody6,7.