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Response on Pneumococcal Vaccine in Preterm Infants After Neutral and Acidic Oligosaccharides Supplementation

Jolice P van den Berg1, Elisabeth A M Westerbeek, Fiona R M van der Klis

  • 1From the *Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; †Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Screening, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands; ‡Division of Immunology and Infectious diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital of the University Medical Center Utrecht; and §Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|July 9, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Supplementation with short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS), long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS), and pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides (pAOS) in preterm infants normalized antibody responses to pneumococcal vaccines. These oligosaccharides regulated immune responses, bringing them to levels seen in healthy term infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal immunology
  • Vaccinology
  • Microbiome research

Background:

  • Oligosaccharide supplementation in premature infants can modulate the immune system.
  • The impact of combined short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS), long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS), and pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharides (pAOS) on antibody concentrations post-pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in very preterm infants was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the effect of enteral scGOS/lcFOS/pAOS supplementation on antibody concentrations after pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in very preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized controlled trial involving very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation or <1500g birth weight).
  • Infants received either scGOS/lcFOS/pAOS or placebo enterally between days 3-30 of life.
  • IgG antibody levels to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides were measured at birth, 5, and 12 months via multiplex immunoassay and compared to a term control group.

Main Results:

  • 113 preterm infants were included with comparable baseline characteristics.
  • After primary vaccinations, the scGOS/lcFOS/pAOS group showed lower IgG antibody concentrations for multiple pneumococcal serotypes compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05).
  • Antibody levels in the supplemented group were comparable to healthy term infants, and differences between preterm groups diminished after the booster vaccination.

Conclusions:

  • Enteral supplementation with scGOS/lcFOS/pAOS exerts a regulatory effect on the immune response to conjugated polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines.
  • This supplementation normalizes the typically enhanced antibody responses in preterm infants, bringing them to levels similar to those observed in healthy term infants.
Abstract

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