Maternal vaccines

Abstract

Acute lower respiratory illness (LRI) is the leading cause of disease worldwide as measured by disability-adjusted life years. New strategies are necessary to decrease the disease burden that is largely borne by infants. Respiratory syncytial virus is the most important cause of LRI in infants. Lower respiratory illness can be prevented by endowing infants with high levels of neutralizing antibodies from mothers whose antibodies are boosted during pregnancy with a potent subunit vaccine. Another important cause of infant mortality is group B streptococcus sepsis in the neonatal period; maternal immunization with a group B conjugate vaccine could prevent this devastating infection.

Risk factors for bronchiolitis-associated deaths among infants in the United States

“…parainfluenza viruses 1 and 3, could lead to a substantial reduction of bronchiolitis mortality and morbidity in infants of normal birth weight. [43][44][45] A number of candidate RSV vaccines are currently being developed, including vaccines based on coldadapted live attenuated RSV strains, 46,47 and subunit vaccines intended for use in nonnaive populations, such as RSV-seropositive children and the elderly. 48,49 To prevent bronchiolitis mortality in infants, a safe and effective RSV vaccine suitable for administration to an infant during the neonatal period or to the mother during pregnancy is necessary, because the majority of bronchiolitis deaths occur among infants 1 to 3 month of age.…”

Total IgE Distribution in Food Allergy Suspected Patients in Republic of Macedonia (2001-2011)

“…However, at birth they have immunoglobulin G from the mother, which crosses through the placenta, and of course there is the secretory IgA from the breast milk. These passively transferred antibodies can protect newborns until 18 months of age, although their response is usually short and with low-affinity [ 19 , 20 ]. This is one of the reasons why most of the admitted patients are around two years of age.…”

Mucosal Veterinary Vaccines: Comparative Vaccinology

“…The enhancement of passive immunity through vaccination of the mother has been a successful disease prevention strategy in domesticated animals. Vaccinated mothers develop higher levels of specific antibodies in colostrum and milk and thereby increase levels of immunity in their offspring (Glezen, 2001;Saif and Fernandez, 1996;Tizard, 2000). Passive immunity can also be enhanced by oral administration of immune milk or heterologous antibody preparations (e.g., chicken egg yolk IgY, [Ikemori, 1992;Kuroki, 1994] or monoclonal antibodies) or by parenteral administration of hyperimmune plasma (Becu et al, 1997).…”