Authors:
Wiertsema SP; Corscadden KJ; Mowe EN; Zhang G; Vijayasekaran S; Coates HL; Mitchell TJ; Thomas WR; Richmond PC; Kirkham LA
Authors notes:
PLoS ONE. 2012;7(11):e49061.1-9
Keywords:
IgG, Otitis media, Antigens, Immune response, Pneumococcal, Haemophilus Influenzae
Abstract
Vaccines including conserved antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) have the potential to reduce the burden of acute otitis media.
Little is known about the antibody response to such antigens in young children with recurrent acute otitis media, however, it has been suggested antibody production may be impaired in these children.
Children with a history of recurrent acute otitis media had significantly higher geometric mean serum IgG levels against NTHi proteins P4, P6 and PD compared with healthy controls, whereas there was no difference in antibody levels against pneumococcal protein antigens.
In both children with and without a history of acute otitis media, antibody levels increased with age and were significantly higher in children colonised with S. pneumoniae or NTHi compared with children that were not colonised.
Proteins from S. pneumoniae and NTHi induce serum IgG in children with a history of acute otitis media.
The mechanisms in which proteins induce immunity and potential protection requires further investigation but the dogma of impaired antibody responses in children with recurrent acute otitis media should be reconsidered