Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/16755
Title: Influence of Frequent Infectious Exposures on General and Varicella-Zoster Virus-Specific Immune Responses in Pediatricians
Authors: OGUNJIMI, Benson 
Smits, Evelien
Heynderickx, Steven
Van den Bergh, Johan
Bilcke, Joke
Jansens, Hilde
Malfait, Ronald
Ramet, Jose
Maecker, Holden T.
Cools, Nathalie
Beutels, Philippe
Van Damme, Pierre
Issue Date: 2014
Source: CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY, 21 (3), p. 417-426
Abstract: Reexposure to viruses is assumed to strengthen humoral and cellular immunity via the secondary immune response. We studied the effects of frequent exposure to viral infectious challenges on immunity. Furthermore, we assessed whether repetitive exposures to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) elicited persistently high immune responses. Blood samples from 11 pediatricians and matched controls were assessed at 3 time points and 1 time point, respectively. Besides the assessment of general immunity by means of measuring T-cell subset percentages, antibody titers and gamma interferon (IFN-γ)/interleukin 2 (IL-2)-producing T-cell percentages against adenovirus type 5 (AdV-5), cytomegalovirus (CMV), tetanus toxin (TT), and VZV were determined. Pediatricians had lower levels of circulating CD4+-naive T cells and showed boosting of CD8+ effector memory T cells. Although no effect on humoral immunity was seen, repetitive exposures to VZV induced persistently higher percentages of IFN-γ-positive T cells against all VZV antigens tested (VZV glycoprotein E [gE], VZV intermediate-early protein 62 [IE62], and VZV IE63) than in controls. T cells directed against latency-associated VZV IE63 benefitted the most from natural exogenous boosting. Although no differences in cellular or humoral immunity were found between the pediatricians and controls for AdV-5 or TT, we did find larger immune responses against CMV antigens in pediatricians. Despite the high infectious burden, we detected a robust and diverse immune system in pediatricians. Repetitive exposures to VZV have been shown to induce a stable increased level of VZV-specific cellular but not humoral immunity. Based on our observations, VZV IE63 can be considered a candidate for a zoster vaccine.
Notes: Ogunjimi, B (reprint author), Univ Antwerp, Vaccine & Infect Dis Inst VAXINFECTIO, Ctr Hlth Econ Res & Modeling Infect Dis, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. benson.ogunjimi@uantwerp.be
Document URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/16755
ISSN: 1556-6811
DOI: 10.1128/CVI.00818-13
ISI #: 000332036900019
Rights: Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Category: A1
Type: Journal Contribution
Validations: ecoom 2015
Appears in Collections:Research publications

Show full item record

SCOPUSTM   
Citations

20
checked on Sep 2, 2020

WEB OF SCIENCETM
Citations

25
checked on Mar 27, 2024

Page view(s)

50
checked on Sep 7, 2022

Download(s)

42
checked on Sep 7, 2022

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.