Antibody profiles to the group B streptococcal beta antigen in maternal and infant paired sera

AUREA E. FLORES, JO ANN NELSON, XIAO YAN WU, Patricia Ferrieri

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11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Antibody profiles to the purified β antigen of the c protein of group B streptococci (GBS) were studied by ELISA and Western immunoblot (WB). The sera from 139 parturient women colonized with GBS, 35 non‐colonized parturients and their newborn infants were studied by ELISA; WB was done on 76 maternal and 26 infant sera. Enzyme‐labeled anti‐IgA (α), ‐IgG (γ), ‐IgM (μ), or ‐IgG (H&L) were used as secondary antibodies. A high prevalence of antibody to the β antigen was observed by both ELISA and WB among parturient women and their newborns. IgG (H&L) ELISA titers ≥200 were found in 84% and ≥800 in 31% of the maternal sera. A significantly higher percentage of women colonized than those non‐colonized with GBS had IgG (γ) titers ≥800. A significantly higher percentage of women colonized with c protein‐positive than c‐negative strains of GBS had IgG (H&L) titers ≥3200. Twelve of 27 women with IgM antibody to the β antigen also had IgG (γ) titers ≥800 and were, in addition, colonized with GBS. Multiple molecular forms of the antigen from 25 to 140 kDa were blotted by the maternal and infant sera. Concordance in the IgG but not in IgA or IgM antibody profiles of maternal and infant paired sera was observed in the overall blotting patterns and ELISA titers. The same titer as the mother was found in 55% of the infant sera and within one dilution in 97%. This suggests active transfer of IgG antibody to the β antigen across the placenta from mother to baby.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)41-49
Number of pages9
JournalAPMIS
Volume101
Issue number1-6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1993

Keywords

  • Streptococci
  • antibody
  • beta antigen
  • group B
  • infant
  • maternal

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