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Development of neutralizing antibodies and group A common antibodies against natural infections with human rotavirus
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Infant rotavirus diarrhea triggers specific antibody responses. Neutralizing antibody levels rise against the infecting rotavirus serotype within two weeks of symptom onset, aiding in diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Human rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants globally.
- Understanding the immune response to rotavirus infection is crucial for vaccine development and disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antibody response, specifically common and neutralizing antibodies, in infants following rotavirus infection.
- To determine the specificity of the neutralizing antibody response to different rotavirus serotypes.
Main Methods:
- Paired serum samples from 38 infants with diarrhea were analyzed for immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) common antibodies and neutralizing antibodies.
- Antibody titers were measured in acute-phase and convalescent-phase sera.
- Patients were categorized based on rotavirus shedding and electropherotype (long or short).
Main Results:
- Infants with rotavirus diarrhea showed significant increases in IgG or IgM common antibodies, unlike control patients.
- A high proportion of infants excreting specific rotavirus electropherotypes developed neutralizing antibodies against corresponding serotypes.
- Neutralizing antibody responses were specific to the infecting rotavirus serotype (e.g., serotype 2 for short, serotype 3 for long).
Conclusions:
- The neutralizing antibody response in infants after rotavirus infection is highly specific to the infecting serotype.
- This specificity can be a valuable diagnostic marker for identifying the causative rotavirus serotype early in infection.
Abstract:
We determined the levels of group A common and neutralizing antibodies against human rotavirus in paired serum specimens obtained from 38 infants within 12 days of the onset of diarrhea. Thirty of the infants excreted rotavirus in stools, and eight did not. Nine patients (30%) with rotavirus diarrhea and seven patients (88%) with diarrhea due to other causes had detectable levels (greater than or equal to 1: 80) of immunoglobulin (IgG) common antibodies in acute-phase sera. All the patients with rotavirus diarrhea showed at least fourfold rises in titers of IgG or IgM common antibodies or both, while only two control patients showed significant rises in either IgG or IgM common antibodies in their convalescent-phase sera. Of the 19 patients excreting "short" electropherotypes of rotavirus, 18 showed at least fourfold rises in titers of neutralizing antibodies against serotype 2 human rotavirus but not against serotype 1, 3, or 4. Nine of the ten patients excreting "long" electropherotypes showed significant rises in neutralizing antibodies against serotype 3, and the other patient showed a significant rise in neutralizing antibodies against serotype 1. One patient excreted long and short electropherotypes simultaneously, and he also showed a significant rise in neutralizing antibodies against serotype 2 and 3 viruses. The control patients with diarrhea did not show significant changes in titers of antibodies against any of the serotypes. These results demonstrated that the neutralizing antibody response within 2 weeks after clinical onset is specific for the infecting serotype of rotavirus.