ASSOCIATION BETWEEN IMMUNOGLOBULIN ALLOTYPES AND IMMUNE RESPONSES TO HÆMOPHILUS INFLUENZÆ AND MENINGOCOCCUS POLYSACCHARIDES

Serum samples were collected from 20 healthy White and 33 Black infants before and after immunisation with three doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine and with one dose of Hœmophilus influenzœ type b polyribose phosphate vaccine and meningococcal group A and group C polysaccharide vaccines. Antibodies to these immunogens were measured and sera were allotyped for several Gm, A2m, and Km antigens. A highly significant association was found between the Km(1) allotype and the immune responses (difference between post-immunisation and pre-immunisation antibody levels) to H. influenzœ and meningococcus C polysaccharides in the White children.