Avidity of IgG for Streptococcus pneumoniae Type 6B and 23F Polysaccharides in Infants Primed with Pneumococcal Conjugates and Boosted with Polysaccharide or Conjugate Vaccines

Relative avidity of IgG to Streptococcus pneumoniae type 6B and 23F polysaccharides (PSs) was measured in sera of children immunized with pneumococcal vaccines, using an EIA and the chaotropic agent thiocyanate. Infants were immunized at 2, 4, and 6 months of age with pneumococcal PS-diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine, and boosted at 14 months with the homologous conjugate or a pneumococcal PS vaccine. The concentrations of antibodies to 6B and 23F PSs increased significantly after the booster with both vaccines. A significant increase in the avidity of anti-6B and anti-23F antibodies was seen after the booster with conjugate but not with PS vaccine. Avidity also increased in another group of infants primed and boosted with pneumococcal PS-meningococcal protein conjugate but not in a group boosted with PS vaccine after priming with pneumococcal PS-tetanus toxoid conjugate. In the latter group, however, the avidity of anti-6B was high before boosting.