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Updated: May 4, 2026
Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
Published on: January 28, 2019
Rotavirus-Specific IgA and IgG Patterns During the First 2 Years of Life in the PREVAIL Birth Cohort
Julia M Baker1, Slavica Mijatovic-Rustempasic1, Mary C Casey-Moore1
1Division of Viral Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Insights
Understanding rotavirus immunity is key. This study found that being a secretor and vaccination status significantly impact rotavirus-specific IgA levels in children, offering insights into differential immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Differential immunity to rotavirus infection and vaccination necessitates understanding its natural history and immune responses.
- A US-based birth cohort study offers a unique platform for longitudinal examination of rotavirus immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess rotavirus-specific immune responses in infants and young children.
- To identify factors influencing rotavirus-specific IgA (immunoglobulin A) geometric mean titers (GMT).
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from birth through 24 months.
- Rotavirus-specific IgA and IgG (immunoglobulin G) were measured using enzyme immunoassay.
- Stool samples identified rotavirus infections, and pre/post-infection/vaccination IgA GMTs were compared.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus vaccination led to a median IgA GMT increase of 38.4 U/mL between 6 weeks and 6 months.
- Post-infection IgA GMT increased significantly, with a median change of 64.5 U/mL.
- Higher IgA GMT was observed in secretor (mother and/or child) pairs (RoM=1.3) and was associated with vaccination, particularly in the first year of life (RoM=1.9).
Conclusions:
- This study provides a longitudinal perspective on rotavirus-specific immune responses in a post-vaccine era.
- Findings contribute to understanding the multifactorial drivers of rotavirus immunity, including host genetics (secretor status) and vaccination.
Background:
Mitigating the underlying causes of differential immunity from rotavirus infection and vaccination requires a comprehensive understanding of rotavirus natural history and immune response. A US-based birth cohort provides a unique opportunity to longitudinally examine rotavirus immune response.
Methods:
Serum was collected from children at birth (cord blood), 6 weeks, and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. Maternally-derived rotavirus-specific IgG (birth samples) and rotavirus-specific IgA and IgG (6-week through 24-month samples) were measured via enzyme immunoassay. Stool samples were collected weekly and during episodes of acute gastroenteritis to identify rotavirus infections. Serum samples prior to and after infection or vaccination were compared to assess their impact on IgA geometric mean titers (GMT). A generalized estimating equation was fit to identify predictors of IgA GMT.
Results:
The median change in IgA GMT from vaccination comparing 6-week and 6-month samples was 38.4 U/mL (IQR 4.4-138.1). The change in IgA following infection varied widely (median = 64.5 [IQR 2.0-192.9]) with preinfection and postinfection GMTs of 35.7 U/mL (95% CI: 21.4-59.6) and 102.6 U/mL (95% CI: 41.1-256.0), respectively. In adjusted analyses, IgA GMT was higher when mother and/or child was a secretor (ratio of means [RoM] = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.4) compared with nonsecretor mother-child pairs. Being fully vaccinated was more strongly associated with IgA GMT in the first (RoM = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.7-2.0) compared with the second year of life (RoM = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0-1.7).
Conclusions:
This longitudinal assessment of rotavirus-specific immune response contributes to our understanding of multifactorial drivers of rotavirus immunity in a postvaccine setting.
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