Related Experiment Videos
Conjugate meningococcal serogroup A and C vaccine: reactogenicity and immunogenicity in United Kingdom infants
C K Fairley1, N Begg, R Borrow
1Public Health Laboratory Service, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, United Kingdom.
Insights
This study shows a new meningococcal conjugate vaccine is safe and effective in infants. It generated strong antibody responses against serogroup C meningococci with minimal side effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Meningococcal disease remains a significant threat to infants.
- Effective vaccination strategies are crucial for prevention.
- Polysaccharide-CRM197 conjugate vaccines offer potential for broad protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a serogroup A and C meningococcal polysaccharide-CRM197 conjugate vaccine.
- To assess antibody responses and reactogenicity in infants.
Main Methods:
- 58 infants received three doses of the vaccine at 2, 3, and 4 months of age.
- Reactogenicity was monitored for systemic and local reactions.
- Immunogenicity was assessed by measuring polysaccharide antibody geometric mean titers (GMTs) and serum bactericidal titers.
Main Results:
- The vaccine demonstrated a favorable safety profile with few systemic side effects.
- Local reactions were less common compared to routine vaccinations.
- Significant increases in anti-A and anti-C polysaccharide antibody GMTs were observed post-vaccination.
- Serum bactericidal titers against serogroup C strains rose substantially and remained elevated.
Conclusions:
- The meningococcal polysaccharide-CRM197 conjugate vaccine is safe and immunogenic in young infants.
- It induces robust and bactericidal antibody responses against serogroup C meningococci.
- This vaccine represents a promising tool for preventing meningococcal disease.
Abstract:
The reactogenicity and immunogenicity of a serogroup A and C meningococcal polysaccharide-CRM197 conjugate vaccine was evaluated in 58 infants who received three doses at 2, 3, and 4 months of age. The conjugate vaccine produced few systemic side effects, and local reactions were significantly less common than those produced by the routine vaccinations. The prevaccination geometric mean titers (GMTs) of A and C polysaccharide antibodies were, respectively, 2.8 and 0.6 microg/mL, rising to 21.5 and 38.5 microg/mL by 1 month after the third dose (age 5 months) and falling to 3.1 and 2.2 mircog/mL by 14 months of age. Prevaccination serum bactericidal titers against 2 serogroup C meningococci strains were <1/4 in 49 of 52 infants, rising to a GMT of 1/3082 at 1 month after the third dose and falling by age 14 months to a GMT of 1/10. Thus, this meningococcal conjugate vaccine proved to be safe and immunogenic, inducing high levels of anti-C polysaccharide antibodies that were bactericidal in young infants.