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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
Genetic regulation of immune responses to vaccines in early life
Genes and Immunity, Volume 5, No. 2, Year 2004
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Description
Infant immunization is the most cost-effective strategy to prevent infectious diseases in childhood, but is limited by immaturity of the immune system. To define strategies to improve vaccine immunogenicity in early life, the role of genetic and environmental factors in the control of vaccine responses in infant twins was studied. Immune responses to BCG, polio, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccines were measured at 5 months of age in 207 Gambian twin pairs recruited at birth. Intrapair correlations for monozygous and dizygous pairs were compared to estimate the environmental and genetic components of variation in responses. High heritability was observed for antibody (Ab) responses to hepatitis B (77%), oral polio (60%), tetanus (44%) and diphtheria (49%) vaccines. Significant heritability was also observed for interferon-γ and interleukin-13 responses to tetanus, pertussis and some BCG vaccine antigens (39-65%). Non-HLA genes played a dominant role in responses to Ab-inducing vaccines, whereas responses to BCG were predominantly controlled by genes within the HLA class II locus. Genetic factors, particularly non-HLA genes, significantly modulate immune responses to infant vaccination. The identification of the specific genes involved will provide new targets for the development of vaccines and adjuvants for young infants that work independently of HLA. © 2004 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Newport, Melanie J.
Unknown Affiliation
Goetghebuer, Tessa
Unknown Affiliation
Weiss, Helen Anne
Unknown Affiliation
Allen, Angela
Unknown Affiliation
Banya, Winston A.S.
Unknown Affiliation
Sillah, D. Jackson
Unknown Affiliation
McAdam, Keith P.W.J.
Unknown Affiliation
Mendy, Maimuna E.
Unknown Affiliation
Ota, Martin Okechukwu C.
Unknown Affiliation
Vekemans, Johan
Unknown Affiliation
Jobe, K.
Unknown Affiliation
Bennett, Steve
Unknown Affiliation
Aaby, Peter
Unknown Affiliation
Stockton, Jemima C.
Unknown Affiliation
Cadau, G.
Unknown Affiliation
Lambert, Paul Henri
Unknown Affiliation
Schlegel-Hauter, S.
Unknown Affiliation
Valenti, Philippe
Unknown Affiliation
Whittle, Hilton C.
Unknown Affiliation
Siegrist, Claire Anne
Unknown Affiliation
Marchant, Arnaud
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 202
Authors: 21
Affiliations: 9
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1038/sj.gene.6364051
ISSN:
14664879
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health