Protective antigen-specific memory B cells persist years after anthrax vaccination and correlate with humoral immunity

Toxins (Basel). 2014 Aug 13;6(8):2424-31. doi: 10.3390/toxins6082424.

Abstract

Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA) generates short-lived protective antigen (PA) specific IgG that correlates with in vitro toxin neutralization and protection from Bacillus anthracis challenge. Animal studies suggest that when PA-specific IgG has waned, survival after spore challenge correlates with an activation of PA-specific memory B cells. Here, we characterize the quantity and the longevity of AVA-induced memory B cell responses in humans. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals vaccinated ≥3 times with AVA (n = 50) were collected early (3-6 months, n = 27) or late after their last vaccination (2-5 years, n = 23), pan-stimulated, and assayed by ELISPOT for total and PA-specific memory B cells differentiated into antibody secreting cells (ASCs). PA-specific ASC percentages ranged from 0.02% to 6.25% (median: 1.57%) and did not differ between early and late post-vaccination individuals. PA-specific ASC percentages correlated with plasma PA-specific IgG (r = 0.42, p = 0.03) and toxin neutralization (r = 0.52, p = 0.003) early post vaccination. PA-specific ASC percentages correlated with supernatant anti-PA both early (r = 0.60, p = 0.001) and late post vaccination (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001). These data suggest PA-specific memory B cell responses are long-lived and can be estimated after recent vaccination by the magnitude and neutralization capacity of the humoral response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anthrax Vaccines*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Bacillus anthracis / immunology*
  • Bacterial Toxins / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anthrax Vaccines
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • anthrax toxin