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Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2006;91:F403-F408 doi:10.1136/adc.2005.090472
  • Original article

Association between low concentrations of antibodies to protein α and Rib and invasive neonatal group B streptococcal infection

  1. C Larsson1,
  2. M Lindroth2,
  3. P Nordin3,
  4. M Stålhammar-Carlemalm1,
  5. G Lindahl1,
  6. I Krantz3,4
  1. 1Department of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
  2. 2Department of Pediatrics, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
  3. 3Skaraborg Institute for Research and Development, Skövde, Sweden
  4. 4Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr Larsson
    Department of Communicable Disease Control, Uddevalla County Hospital, S-451 80 Uddevalla, Sweden; charlotte.u.larsson{at}vgregion.se
  • Accepted 25 May 2006

Abstract

Background: Infection with group B streptococci (GBS) is a serious neonatal disease. The GBS cell surface proteins α and Rib elicit protective immunity in animal models and have been suggested as potential antigens in a vaccine against human GBS disease.

Aims: To test the hypothesis that transplacentally transferred maternal antibodies to GBS proteins contribute to the protection of the neonate from GBS infection.

Methods: Thirty neonates with invasive infection were included in a case-control study. IgG antibody concentrations were measured in sera from these neonates, their mothers, and from 60 non-infected controls, neonates as well as mothers.

Results: A clear association was found between concentrations of antibody to proteins α and Rib in neonatal and maternal sera, indicating that transplacental transfer had occurred. Moreover, low concentrations of antibodies to α and Rib in neonatal sera were associated with invasive GBS infection caused by strains expressing the Rib protein. The odds ratio was 0.0007 (95% confidence interval 0.000 to 0.54) for antibodies to α and 0.002 (95% confidence interval 0.000 to 0.57) for antibodies to Rib.

Conclusion: These findings support the notion that antibodies to GBS surface proteins contribute to the protection against neonatal infection.

Footnotes

  • Financial support: the Swedish Research Council, the Meningitis Research Foundation (UK), the “Förenade Liv” Mutual Group Life Insurance Company, the Swedish Society for Medical Research, the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund, and the trusts of Golje, Jerring, Kock, Samariten and Österlund.

  • Competing interests: None declared.

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