Immunologic memory 5 years after meningococcal A/C conjugate vaccination in infancy

J Infect Dis. 2001 Jan 1;183(1):97-104. doi: 10.1086/317667. Epub 2000 Nov 15.

Abstract

Infant vaccination with meningococcal conjugates may provide long-term protection against disease. Antibody levels and immunologic memory were assessed in 5-year-old Gambian children who received meningococcal A/C conjugate vaccination (MenA/C) in infancy. At 2 years, they were randomized to receive a booster of MenA/C (conjugate group), meningococcal A/C polysaccharide (MPS group), or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV group). All groups were revaccinated with 10 microg MPS at 5 years of age, as were 39 previously unvaccinated age-matched control subjects. Before revaccination, titers were higher in the conjugate and MPS groups than in control subjects (P<.001); titers for the IPV group were similar to those for control subjects. Ten days after revaccination, the conjugate and IPV groups had similar serogroup C serum bactericidal antibody titers (3421 vs. 2790, respectively). These levels were significantly higher than those in the MPS (426) and control (485) groups (P<.001). Thus, immunologic memory was sustained for > or =5 years; however, MPS challenge at 2 years interfered with a subsequent memory response.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Child, Preschool
  • Gambia
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Infant
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / prevention & control
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / immunology*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Meningococcal Vaccines
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Vaccines, Conjugate