Memory B cell responses to Vibrio cholerae O1 lipopolysaccharide are associated with protection against infection from household contacts of patients with cholera in Bangladesh

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2012 Jun;19(6):842-8. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00037-12. Epub 2012 Apr 18.

Abstract

Vibrio cholerae O1 causes cholera, a dehydrating diarrheal disease. We have previously shown that V. cholerae-specific memory B cell responses develop after cholera infection, and we hypothesize that these mediate long-term protective immunity against cholera. We prospectively followed household contacts of cholera patients to determine whether the presence of circulating V. cholerae O1 antigen-specific memory B cells on enrollment was associated with protection against V. cholerae infection over a 30-day period. Two hundred thirty-six household contacts of 122 index patients with cholera were enrolled. The presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific IgG memory B cells in peripheral blood on study entry was associated with a 68% decrease in the risk of infection in household contacts (P = 0.032). No protection was associated with cholera toxin B subunit (CtxB)-specific memory B cells or IgA memory B cells specific to LPS. These results suggest that LPS-specific IgG memory B cells may be important in protection against infection with V. cholerae O1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Bangladesh
  • Child
  • Cholera / immunology
  • Cholera / prevention & control*
  • Cholera / transmission*
  • Cholera Toxin / immunology
  • Family Characteristics*
  • Family Health
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology*
  • Male
  • Vibrio cholerae O1 / immunology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Cholera Toxin