Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
07:47

Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage

Published on: February 15, 2013

16.4K

Dynamics and Determinants of Pneumococcal Antibodies Specific against 13 Vaccine Serotypes in the Pre-Vaccination Era

Annemarijn C Prins-van Ginkel1, Guy A M Berbers1, Lucienne H Grundeken1

  • 1Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.

Plos One
|January 23, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Serotype-specific antibody levels in the pre-vaccine era showed some variation, indicating shifts in pneumococcal exposure. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for evaluating vaccine impact on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) reduced invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) but led to increased non-vaccine serotype IPD.
  • Understanding pre-vaccine serotype dynamics is essential for assessing serotype replacement.
  • Serosurveillance studies offer insights into serotype dynamics alongside IPD surveillance and carriage studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare pneumococcal serotype antibody levels between two Dutch serosurveillance studies conducted before widespread PCV use (PIENTER1: 1995-1996 and PIENTER2: 2006-2007).
  • To investigate changes in serotype-specific antibody concentrations and identify associated determinants during the pre-vaccine era.

Main Methods:

  • Blood samples and questionnaire data were collected from participants in two Dutch serosurveillance studies.
  • Pneumococcal antibodies for PCV13 serotypes were quantified using a multiplex immunoassay.
  • Geometric mean antibody concentrations (GMCs) and their determinants were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • GMCs for several serotypes (1, 6A, 6B, 9V, 18C, 19F, 23F) were higher in PIENTER2 compared to PIENTER1, while levels for serotypes 3 and 5 were lower.
  • Factors like age, daycare attendance, household size, vaccination coverage, and urbanization rate were associated with antibody levels in children.
  • In the elderly, associations included education level, ethnicity, age, low vaccination coverage, urbanization rate, and asthma/COPD.
  • Determinants of pneumococcal IgG differed slightly between the two study periods in the elderly population.

Conclusions:

  • While most serotype antibody levels remained stable, specific serotype antibody levels showed variation during the pre-vaccine era.
  • These observed variations suggest changes in exposure to certain pneumococcal serotypes independent of PCV interference.
  • The findings highlight the importance of pre-vaccine serotype dynamics for understanding serotype replacement patterns.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination09:11

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination

Published on: September 25, 2014

22.7K
Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/4306:06

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Published on: September 11, 2020

2.3K

Related Concept Videos

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment01:30

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
1.2K
Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
53.6K
Vaccines01:21

Vaccines

Vaccines are among the most effective tools in preventive medicine, designed to prepare the immune system to recognize and combat infectious agents. By introducing antigens—substances that the immune system identifies as foreign—vaccines stimulate an adaptive immune response that leads to immunological memory. This immunological memory enables the body to mount a faster and more effective response upon future exposures to the actual pathogen.Vaccines can be categorized based on the...
41