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Infection and Immunity, November 2006, p. 6377-6386, Vol. 74, No. 11
0019-9567/06/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/IAI.00702-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Medical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden,1 Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Republic of Singapore,2 State Serum Institute,3 HS Blood Bank, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark4
Received 2 May 2006/ Returned for modification 7 June 2006/ Accepted 4 September 2006
Moraxella catarrhalis immunoglobulin D-binding protein (MID) is a complex antigen with unique immunoglobulin D (IgD)-binding, adhesion, and hemagglutination properties. Previous studies have shown that antibodies raised against MID764-913 in rabbits inhibited M. catarrhalis adhesion to human alveolar epithelial cells, and immunization with MID764-913 resulted in an increased pulmonary clearance in a murine model. Strong immune responses against MID have also consistently been shown in humans. Here, the MID-specified IgG responses were compared to those of ubiquitous surface proteins A1 and A2 (UspA1/A2) using a series of recombinant fragments that spanned all three proteins. Sera were obtained from young children, aged 6 months to 1 year (n = 8) and 2 to 3 years (n = 15), and healthy adults (n = 16). Acute- and convalescent-phase sera from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with M. catarrhalis infective exacerbations (n = 23) were also analyzed. Young children, who are at risk of M. catarrhalis infection, had low levels of anti-MID and anti-UspA1/A2 antibodies. Healthy adults and the majority of COPD patients (16/23) had high levels of antibodies directed against, among others, the adhesive domain of MID and the fibronectin- and C3-binding domains of UspA1/A2. Among eight COPD patients in whom a rise in antibody levels could be detected, these functional domains were also the main regions targeted by the antibodies. In addition, human IgG directed against MID was bactericidal and anti-MID antibodies were additive to antibodies targeting UspA1/A2. Hence, the functional domains in these three antigens may have significant potential in a future vaccine against M. catarrhalis.
Published ahead of print on 11 September 2006.
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