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Campylobacter jejuni-specific serum antibodies are elevated in healthy Bangladeshi children
Insights
Serum antibodies against Campylobacter jejuni are higher in Bangladeshi children, correlating with age and immunoglobulin levels. These elevated antibody levels may offer protection against infection in developing countries.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Campylobacter jejuni infections are common in children in developing nations.
- The ratio of illness to infection decreases with age, suggesting developing immunity.
- The role of specific serum antibodies in this age-related phenomenon is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between specific serum antibodies and age in healthy children.
- To compare antibody levels in children from a developing country (Bangladesh) and a developed country (U.S.).
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure specific serum antibody levels.
- Sera were collected from 93 healthy Bangladeshi children and 121 healthy U.S. children under 15 years of age.
- Antibody levels were analyzed across three age groups: less than 1, 2 to 4, and 5 to 14 years.
Main Results:
- Bangladeshi children exhibited significantly higher specific serum antibody levels to C. jejuni compared to U.S. children across all age groups.
- In Bangladeshi children, immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels increased linearly with age.
- Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels peaked in the 2- to 4-year age group, with IgG subsequently falling and IgM plateauing.
Conclusions:
- Age-related differences in immunoglobulin subclass responses to C. jejuni are evident in Bangladeshi children.
- Elevated serum antibody levels in Bangladeshi children may indicate protective immunity or reflect other protective mechanisms.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the protective role of these antibodies in C. jejuni infections.
Abstract:
In Bangladesh and other developing countries, isolation of Campylobacter jejuni is common in healthy children, and the illness/infection ratio falls with age. To determine whether specific serum antibodies correlate with this phenomenon, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we studied sera from 93 healthy Bangladeshi children and 121 healthy U.S. children under 15 years of age. For each age group (less than 1, 2 to 4, and 5 to 14 years) studied, specific serum antibody levels were significantly higher in the Bangladeshi children. Among Bangladeshi children, for each of the three immunoglobulin subclasses, the change in antibody levels with age was different. Specific immunoglobulin A antibody levels rose linearly with age, immunoglobulin G levels peaked in the 2- to 4-year age group and then fell, and immunoglobulin M levels peaked in the 2- to 4-year age group and then plateaued. Elevated serum antibody levels to C. jejuni in Bangladeshi children may be protective in themselves or may reflect other protective phenomena.