The Vi conjugate typhoid vaccine is safe, elicits protective levels of IgG anti-Vi, and is compatible with routine infant vaccines

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 May;18(5):730-5. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00532-10. Epub 2011 Mar 16.

Abstract

Typhoid fever remains a serious problem in developing countries. Current vaccines are licensed for individuals who are 5 years old or older. A conjugate of the capsular polysaccharide (CP) of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (Vi) bound to recombinant exoprotein A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Vi-rEPA) enhanced Vi immunogenicity and protected 2- to 5-year-olds in Vietnam. In this study, Vi-rEPA was evaluated for use in infants. A total of 301 full-term Vietnamese infants received Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines alone or with Vi-rEPA or Haemophilus influenzae type b-tetanus toxoid conjugate (Hib-TT) at 2, 4, and 6 months and Vi-rEPA or Hib-TT alone at 12 months. Infants were visited 6, 24, and 48 h after each injection to monitor adverse reactions. Maternal, cord, and infant sera were assayed for IgG anti-Vi and for IgG antibodies to Hib CP and the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis toxins at 7, 12, and 13 months. No vaccine-related serious adverse reactions occurred. In the Vi-rEPA group, the IgG anti-Vi geometric mean (GM) increased from the cord level of 0.66 to 17.4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units (EU) at 7 months, declined to 4.76 EU at 12 months, and increased to 50.1 EU 1 month after the 4th dose (95% of infants had levels of ≥ 3.5 EU, the estimated protective level). Controls had no increase of the IgG anti-Vi GM. Infants with cord anti-Vi levels of <3.5 EU responded with significantly higher IgG anti-Vi levels than those with levels of ≥ 3.5 EU. Anti-diphtheria, -tetanus, and -pertussis toxin levels were similar in all groups. Vi-rEPA was safe, induced protective anti-Vi levels, and was compatible with EPI vaccines, and it can be used in infants. High cord IgG anti-Vi levels partially suppressed infant responses to Vi-rEPA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Female
  • Haemophilus Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Haemophilus Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Haemophilus Vaccines / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / administration & dosage
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / adverse effects*
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Tetanus Toxoid / administration & dosage
  • Tetanus Toxoid / adverse effects
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology
  • Typhoid-Paratyphoid Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Typhoid-Paratyphoid Vaccines / adverse effects*
  • Typhoid-Paratyphoid Vaccines / immunology*
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / immunology
  • Vietnam
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Haemophilus Vaccines
  • Haemophilus influenza type b polysaccharide vaccine-tetanus toxin conjugate
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Tetanus Toxoid
  • Typhoid-Paratyphoid Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Conjugate
  • Vi polysaccharide vaccine, typhoid