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Portillo S, Oshinsky J, Williams M, Yoder S, Liang Y, Campbell JD, Laufer MK, Neuzil KM, Edwards KM, Pasetti MF. Quantitative analysis of pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria antibodies in sera and breast milk from Tdap vaccinated women using a qualified multiplex assay. mSphere 2024; 9:e0052723. [PMID: 38497618 PMCID: PMC11036809 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00527-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a reemergent, highly contagious respiratory infection of public health concern. Infants prior to initiation of their primary vaccination series are the most vulnerable to severe infection, and even death. Vaccination during pregnancy is an efficacious means of reducing infection in infants. This approach relies on boosting maternal immunity and passive transfer of antibodies to the infant via placenta and breast milk. Similarly, maternal vaccination post-partum can enhance maternal-infant immunity. To support the analysis of pertussis immunity in the context of maternal-infant immunization, we developed a high throughput multiplex assay for simultaneous quantification of serum IgG antibodies against pertussis vaccine antigens: pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), pertactin (PRN), and fimbriae (FIM2/3), and against tetanus (TT) and diphtheria toxoids (DT), using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) platform. The assay was qualified, and specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, linearity, and robustness were demonstrated. The assay was subsequently adapted for quantification of IgG and IgA in breast milk. Applied to a serological survey of pregnant women living in the United States and sub-Saharan Africa, this method revealed differences in magnitude and breadth of antibody profile, consistent with history of vaccination. A longitudinal analysis of Tdap responses in women vaccinated post-partum demonstrated a rapid increase in serum IgG that remained elevated for up to 24 months. Likewise, high levels of vaccine-specific IgA and IgG antibodies were present in breast milk, although they exhibited faster decay. This multiplex MSD assay is a reliable and practical tool for quantification of pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria antibodies in serum and breast milk in serosurveys or vaccine studies. IMPORTANCE Pertussis (whooping cough) has reemerged in recent years. Vaccination during pregnancy is an effective approach to prevent illness during the first months of life. We developed a multiplex assay for quantification of pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria serum antibodies using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) platform; the method was qualified, and specificity, precision, accuracy, linearity, and limits of quantification were defined. It was also adapted for quantification of antibodies in breast milk. We successfully determined serostatus in women from different regions and with different vaccination histories, as well as responses to Tdap in blood and breast milk post-partum. This is the first description of a multiplex assay for the quantification of pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria antibodies in breast milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Portillo
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer Oshinsky
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Margaret Williams
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sandra Yoder
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Liang
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - James D. Campbell
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Miriam K. Laufer
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Neuzil
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathryn M. Edwards
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Marcela F. Pasetti
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Zimmerman M, Zapata LP, Bachiller K, Devera JL, Hall TA, Casey SM, Perkins RB, Pierre-Joseph N. Attitudes Toward Routine Vaccines and COVID-19 Vaccines Among Parents of Infants and Toddlers in an Urban Safety-Net Setting. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2024:99228231224168. [PMID: 38279858 DOI: 10.1177/00099228231224168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
This study explores attitudes toward diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), influenza, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines among English-speaking and Spanish-speaking parents of infants in a safety-net setting. Parents aged 18 years or older were recruited from outpatient clinics between December 2020 and December 2021. The interviews were then recorded, transcribed, translated, and qualitatively analyzed using the modified grounded theory. Thirty-two individuals participated (18 English-speaking and 14 Spanish-speaking). Almost all supported receiving routine childhood vaccines, DTaP, influenza, and MMR and believed that vaccines promote health. Vaccine concerns differed by each vaccine. Few participants expressed concerns about DTaP and MMR vaccines. Concerns around influenza vaccines often stemmed from personal experience and perceived increased risk of flu-like illnesses. Participants expressed the most concerns related to COVID-19 vaccinations, including age-based immunity of their infants. Based on these findings, future interventions to improve vaccine uptake may focus on benefits common to all vaccines, while addressing vaccine-specific concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Zimmerman
- Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lesly P Zapata
- Barry M. Manuel Center for Continuing Education, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karla Bachiller
- Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jean L Devera
- Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Taylor A Hall
- Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sharon M Casey
- Barry M. Manuel Center for Continuing Education, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca B Perkins
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Natalie Pierre-Joseph
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Abstract
Almost 7 million children under the age 5 die each year, and most of these deaths are attributable to vaccine-preventable infections. Young infants respond poorly to infections and vaccines. In particular, dendritic cells secrete less IL-12 and IL-18, CD8pos T cells and NK cells have defective cytolysis and cytokine production, and CD4pos T cell responses tend to bias towards a Th2 phenotype and promotion of regulatory T cells (Tregs). The basis for these differences is not well understood and may be in part explained by epigenetic differences, as well as immaturity of the infant's immune system. Here we present a third possibility, which involves active suppression by immune regulatory cells and place in context the immune suppressive pathways of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), CD5pos B cells, and Tregs. The immune pathways that these immune regulatory cells inhibit are similar to those that are defective in the infant. Therefore, the immune deficiencies seen in infants could be explained, in part, by active suppressive cells, indicating potential new avenues for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L Gervassi
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Washington Departments of, Seattle WA
| | - Helen Horton
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Washington Departments of, Seattle WA ; Medicine, Seattle WA ; Global Health, Seattle WA
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