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Serotype 3 Antibody Response and Antibody Functionality Compared to Serotype 19A Following 13-Valent Pneumococcal

Naoko Fuji1, Minh Pham2, Ravinder Kaur1

  • 1From the Center for Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, 1425 Portland Ave, Rochester, New York.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|December 4, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) shows lower effectiveness against serotype 3 compared to serotype 19A. Antibody levels for serotype 3 are insufficient to prevent acute otitis media and colonization in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is crucial for preventing pneumococcal infections in children.
  • Concerns exist regarding PCV13's variable effectiveness, particularly against Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 compared to serotype 19A.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare IgG and functional antibody responses to serotypes 3 and 19A after PCV13 immunization.
  • To evaluate PCV13-induced antibody levels against naturally acquired immunity.
  • To assess PCV13's effectiveness in preventing acute otitis media (AOM) and colonization by serotypes 3 and 19A in children aged 6-36 months.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, longitudinal observational cohort study in Rochester, NY.
  • Pneumococcal detection via culture; serum antibody levels measured by ELISA.
  • Functional antibody and avidity assessed using opsonophagocytosis assays and thiocyanate bond disruption, respectively.
  • PCV13 effectiveness evaluated by comparing pre- and post-vaccination serotype prevalence for AOM and colonization.

Main Results:

  • A higher proportion of children achieved the protective antibody threshold (≥0.35 µg/mL) for serotype 19A than for serotype 3 post-PCV13.
  • Only serotype 19A demonstrated a significant increase in PCV13-induced opsonophagocytosis titers and antibody avidity.
  • While naturally induced immunity to serotype 3 showed a positive trend with age, PCV13-induced immunity did not.
  • PCV13 effectiveness was confirmed for serotype 19A in preventing AOM and colonization, but not for serotype 3.

Conclusions:

  • PCV13 elicits lower antibody levels and demonstrates reduced effectiveness against serotype 3 compared to serotype 19A.
  • Post-PCV13 antibody levels for serotype 3 appear insufficient to provide adequate protection against AOM and colonization in most young children.
Abstract

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