Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
Maternal immunity drives age-related patterns of RSV disease
Clara Brigitta1, David Hodgson2, Graham F Medley3
1Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Dynamics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Insights
Maternal antibodies offer limited protection against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in infants, waning by six months. Maternal vaccination can reduce infant RSV cases by up to 18.4% in the coming years.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
- Mathematical Modeling
Background:
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory illness in young children.
- Maternally-derived antibodies provide temporary protection, but their effectiveness and interaction with age-specific disease risk are not well understood.
- The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted RSV transmission, offering a unique context to study these dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the impact of maternally-derived immunity on infant RSV risk.
- To model the effects of delayed primary exposure due to pandemic disruptions on RSV disease burden.
- To project the potential impact of maternal vaccination on reducing infant RSV cases.
Main Methods:
- Developed a compartmental model of childhood RSV incorporating maternal immunity, waning protection, and age-dependent risk.
- Calibrated the model using Scottish surveillance data from 2016-2024.
- Estimated non-linear functions for maternal immunity and RSV risk, and projected disease burden under different vaccination scenarios.
Main Results:
- Maternal immunity was protective only when infection occurred late in pregnancy, with infant protection waning by six months.
- RSV burden shifted to older children post-pandemic due to delayed exposure.
- Infants missing their first RSV season showed higher disease rates later.
- Maternal vaccination projected to decrease RSV cases in infants ≤6 months by 15.3% (2024-25) and 18.4% (2025-26).
Conclusions:
- The timing and immunological mechanisms of maternally-derived immunity significantly influence RSV dynamics in young children.
- Disruptions, like pandemics or vaccination programs, can alter age-specific RSV disease patterns.
- Maternal vaccination shows promise in reducing the burden of RSV in vulnerable infants.
Abstract:
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory illness in young children. While maternal antibodies offer temporary protection in early infancy, their interaction with age-dependent disease risk remains poorly quantified. The COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted RSV transmission, provides a unique opportunity to explore these dynamics and the potential impact of maternal vaccination. We developed a compartmental model of childhood RSV disease incorporating maternal infection history, maternally-derived immunity, waning protection in infants, and age-dependent disease risk. Calibrated to Scottish surveillance data (2016-2024), the model estimated non-linear functions for maternal immunity and RSV risk by age, and projected burden from 2024 to 2028 under vaccination and no-vaccination scenarios. Following pandemic-related disruption, RSV burden shifted to older children due to delayed primary exposure. Infants who missed their typical first RSV season in 2020 experienced higher disease rates at later ages, in subsequent seasons. Maternal immunity conferred protection only when infection occurred in late pregnancy, with infant protection waning to negligible levels by six months of age. Maternal vaccination at current coverage rates was projected to reduce RSV disease cases in infants ≤ 6 months by 15.3% (95% CI: 11.9-18.5%) in 2024-25 and 18.4% (95% CI: 12.8-23.6%) in 2025-26. Our findings highlight the role of the timing and immunological mechanisms of maternally-derived immunity in shaping RSV dynamics in young children and demonstrate how disruptions-whether through pandemic-related changes or maternal vaccination-can alter age-specific disease patterns.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:51Vaccinations
01:23Immunological Memory
What is Immunological Memory?
Immunological memory is an integral function of the immune system that allows it to recognize and react more rapidly and effectively to pathogens previously encountered. This feature...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...