ANTIBODY (Ab) TO THE CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDE (PRP) OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE B IN 2 TO 6-MO-OLD INFANTS VACCINATED WITH PRP OLIGOSACCHARIDES CONJUGATED TO THE DIPHTHERIA PROTEIN CRM₁₉₇

Abstract

A reducing oligosaccharide preparation (vs) from PRP was conjugated by reductive amination to CRM₁97, a non-toxic mutant protein of diphtheria toxin. This conjugate, Dcr-vs-1, was previously reported to elicit memory-type Ab responses to PRP in children 12-30 mo of age. In the present study 25-μg doses were given to healthy infants at ages 2,4, and 6 mo along with conventional DTP vaccine, in a separate site. There were no adverse reactions. Sera were taken before each injection and 1 mo after the third. The sequence is complete for 4 subjects. Anti-PRP Ab titers were determined by radioantigen binding:

Thus no rises were seen after the 1°. There were distinct rises after the 2° and even larger rises after the 3° in 3 subjects. Subject EC, who had no detectable response, also had the highest pre-vaccination level (presumably maternal Ab). Additional infants and the Ig class specificity and bactericidal activity of the antibodies are being studied. The approach seems promising for prevention of H. influenzae b infection in the age range of greatest susceptibility.

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