Amount of maternal rotavirus-specific antibodies influence the outcome of rotavirus vaccination of newborn mice with virus-like particles.

In presence of low or high levels of rotavirus-specific maternal antibodies, the ability of newborn mice to respond to immunization with rotavirus RF 8*-2/6/7 VLPs, was evaluated. After parenteral vaccination, 100% of offspring born to low-antibody-titer dams developed rotavirus-specific IgG antibodies (n=7). In contrast, only 25% of offsprings born to high-antibody-titer dams responded to parenteral immunization (n=12). When comparing parenteral versus oral immunization in offspring to low-antibody-titer dams only 45% responded after oral immunization (n=6). In conclusion, the response to parenteral immunization was not hampered by the presence of low levels of maternal antibodies induced by a natural infection while oral immunization was impaired. However, high levels of maternal antibodies impaired the response to parenteral immunization.