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. 2009 Mar 15;199(6):795-800.
doi: 10.1086/597069.

Population differences in immune responses to Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination in infancy

Maeve K Lalor  1 , Anne Ben-Smith, Patricia Gorak-Stolinska, Rosemary E Weir, Sian Floyd, Rose Blitz, Hazzie Mvula, Melanie J Newport, Keith Branson, Nuala McGrath, Amelia C Crampin, Paul E M Fine, Hazel M Dockrell
Affiliations

Population differences in immune responses to Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination in infancy

Maeve K Lalor et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination induces a marked increase in the interferon (IFN)-gamma response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis purified protein derivative (Mtb PPD) in UK adolescents, but not in Malawian adolescents. We hypothesized that Mtb PPD-induced IFN-gamma after BCG vaccination would be similar in infants from these 2 countries. Infants were vaccinated with BCG during the first 3-13 weeks of life. Three months after BCG vaccination, 51 (100%) of 51 UK infants had an IFN-gamma response to Mtb PPD, compared to 41 (53%) of 78 of Malawian infants, in whom responses varied according to their season of birth. We conclude that population differences in immune responses after BCG vaccination are observed among infants, as well as among young adults.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. IFNγ responses to M.tb PPD
a) Histograms showing IFNγ responses to M.tb PPD in unvaccinated UK infants, vaccinated UK infants, and vaccinated Malawian infants three and twelve months post BCG vaccination and age-matched for unvaccinated controls. b) Box and whisker plots showing IFNγ responses to M.tb PPD in vaccinated UK and Malawian infants three and twelve months post BCG vaccination.
Figure 2
Figure 2. IFNγ responses to M.tb PPD three months post BCG vaccination by season of birth
a) Bar charts showing percentage of low responders (62-500pg/ml) and high responders (>500pg/ml) by season in the UK and Malawi. In the UK, responses are shown for Autumn (Sept, Oct, Nov), Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb), Spring (Mar, Apr, May), Summer Jun, Jul, Aug). In Malawi, seasons are warm and rainy (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May), cool and dry (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep), hot and dry (Oct, Nov, Dec). b) Box and whisker plots showing IFNγ responses to M.tb PPD in Malawi and the UK by season. (UK n=51, Malawi n=78).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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