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A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies
Published on: February 23, 2018
Mumps-specific cross-neutralization by MMR vaccine-induced antibodies predicts protection against mumps virus
Sigrid Gouma1, Hinke I Ten Hulscher2, Tessa M Schurink-van 't Klooster2
1Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Background:
Similar to other recent mumps genotype G outbreaks worldwide, most mumps patients during the recent mumps genotype G outbreaks in the Netherlands had received 2 doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine during childhood. Here, we investigate the capacity of vaccine-induced antibodies to neutralize wild type mumps virus strains, including mumps virus genotype G.
Methods:
In this study, we tested 105 pre-outbreak serum samples from students who had received 2 MMR vaccine doses and who had no mumps virus infection (n=76), symptomatic mumps virus infection (n=10) or asymptomatic mumps virus infection (n=19) during the mumps outbreaks. In all samples, mumps-specific IgG concentrations were measured by multiplex immunoassay and neutralization titers were measured against the Jeryl Lynn vaccine strain and against wild type genotype G and genotype D mumps virus strains.
Results:
The correlation between mumps-specific IgG concentrations and neutralization titers against Jeryl Lynn was poor, which suggests that IgG concentrations do not adequately represent immunological protection against mumps virus infection by antibody neutralization. Pre-outbreak neutralization titers in infected persons were significantly lower against genotype G than against the vaccine strain. Furthermore, antibody neutralization of wild type mumps virus genotype G and genotype D was significantly reduced in pre-outbreak samples from infected persons as compared with non-infected persons. No statistically significant difference was found for the vaccine strain. The sensitivity/specificity ratio was largest for neutralization of the genotype G strain as compared with the genotype D strain and the vaccine strain.
Conclusions:
The reduced neutralization of wild type mumps virus strains in MMR vaccinated persons prior to infection indicates that pre-outbreak mumps virus neutralization is partly strain-specific and that neutralization differs between infected and non-infected persons. Therefore, we recommend the use of wild type mumps virus neutralization assays as preferred tool for surveillance of protection against mumps virus infection.
Insights
Most vaccinated individuals in recent mumps outbreaks had received two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Antibody neutralization of wild-type mumps virus, particularly genotype G, was reduced in infected individuals, suggesting strain-specific immunity.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Recent mumps genotype G outbreaks globally show most cases in individuals vaccinated with two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
- This highlights a need to investigate the effectiveness of vaccine-induced antibodies against circulating wild-type mumps virus strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the capacity of vaccine-induced antibodies to neutralize wild-type mumps virus strains, including genotype G.
- To evaluate the correlation between mumps-specific IgG concentrations and neutralization titers.
- To compare neutralization capacity against vaccine and wild-type strains in vaccinated individuals with and without prior infection.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 105 students (vaccinated with 2 MMR doses) were analyzed.
- Samples included non-infected, symptomatic, and asymptomatic individuals from mumps outbreaks.
- Mumps-specific IgG concentrations and neutralization titers against Jeryl Lynn vaccine strain and wild-type genotypes G and D were measured.
Main Results:
- IgG concentrations poorly correlated with neutralization titers against the vaccine strain.
- Neutralization titers against wild-type genotype G were significantly lower in infected individuals compared to the vaccine strain.
- Antibody neutralization of wild-type mumps virus (genotypes G and D) was reduced in infected versus non-infected individuals, while the vaccine strain showed no significant difference.
Conclusions:
- Reduced neutralization of wild-type mumps virus strains indicates strain-specific immunity in vaccinated individuals.
- Neutralization capacity differs between infected and non-infected persons.
- Wild-type mumps virus neutralization assays are recommended for surveillance of protection against mumps virus infection.
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