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Specific immunoglobulin A antibodies in maternal milk and delayed Helicobacter pylori colonization in Gambian infants

Thomas, J. E., Bunn, J., Kleanthous, H., Monath, T. P., Harding, M., Coward, W. A. and Weaver, L. T. (2004) 'Specific immunoglobulin A antibodies in maternal milk and delayed Helicobacter pylori colonization in Gambian infants'. Clinical Infectious Diseases, Vol 39, Issue 8, pp. 1155-1160.

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Abstract

Background. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) in maternal milk may protect Gambian infants from early Helicobacter pylori colonization. This study sought evidence that this protection could be due to specific IgA antibodies.
Methods. Sixty-five infants were screened from 12 weeks of age with [13C]-urea breath tests. Antibodies in maternal milk were measured to determine total IgA content and to detect specific IgA antibodies against crude whole-cell and recombinant H. pylori urease antigen preparations.
Results. Ten children (15%) had no evidence of early H. pylori colonization, 10 (15%) had early H. pylori colonization, and 43 (66%) had mixed results. Levels of maternal circulating specific immunoglobulin G, total milk IgA, and IgA directed against crude whole-cell H. pylori antigen preparation were not significantly associated with the rate of infant H. pylori colonization. However, mothers of infants with no evidence of early colonization produced significantly higher levels of anti-recombinant urease IgA antibodies in milk than did control mothers, particularly at 8, 16, and 20 weeks postpartum (P < .01).
Conclusions. These observations support the hypothesis that antibodies in mother's milk directed against H. pylori urease can protect against colonization in human infancy.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: c-13-urea breath test immune-responses natural-history felis infection human-disease mouse model children urease mice immunization
Subjects: QW Microbiology and Immunology > Bacteria > QW 154 Campylobacter. Helicobactor.
QW Microbiology and Immunology > QW 50 Bacteria (General). Bacteriology. Archaea
QW Microbiology and Immunology > Immunity by Type > QW 553 Maternally acquired immunity
QW Microbiology and Immunology > Antigens and Antibodies. Toxins and Antitoxins > QW 575 Antibodies
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1086/424514
Depositing User: Ms Julia Martin
Date Deposited: 09 Feb 2012 11:22
Last Modified: 15 Jun 2018 14:37
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/2141

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