Mechanism of antibody-mediated reduction of nasopharyngeal colonization by Haemophilus influenzae type b studied in an infant rat model

J Infect Dis. 1996 Dec;174(6):1337-40. doi: 10.1093/infdis/174.6.1337.

Abstract

The mechanism of antibody-mediated reduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) carriage was studied in the infant rat colonization model. Monoclonal Hib polysaccharide (PS) antibody (MAb) given intranasally or intraperitoneally and human secretory anti-Hib PS IgA given intranasally inhibited colonization by Hib during the entire follow-up period (2-48 h after challenge) but did not affect colonization by Hi, a noncapsulated variant of Hib. F(ab')2 fragments, prepared from the MAb or from human serum anti-Hib IgG reduced Hib colonization as efficiently as the uncleaved molecules. Complement depletion by cobra venom treatment had no effect on the antibody-mediated reduction of Hib colonization. These results indicate that Fc-mediated activities of immunoglobulins are not essential in the reduction of Hib colonization. Instead, antibodies to Hib most likely reduce colonization by a direct effect on growth of the bacteria or their adherence to the nasopharyngeal mucosa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology
  • Complement System Proteins / metabolism
  • Genetic Variation
  • Haemophilus Infections / immunology*
  • Haemophilus Infections / microbiology
  • Haemophilus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / genetics
  • Haemophilus influenzae / growth & development*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin A / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin A / therapeutic use*
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / therapeutic use
  • Immunoglobulin G / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Kinetics
  • Nasopharynx / immunology
  • Nasopharynx / microbiology
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Complement System Proteins