INHIBITION OF THE OFFSPRING ANTI-RECOMBINANT GP120 ANTIBODY-RESPONSE TO A HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS VACCINE BY MATERNAL IMMUNIZATION IN A MURINE MODEL

A murine model was developed for assessing the effects of passively tr ansferred polyclonal maternal anti-gp120 antibodies on the subsequent immunization of the offspring with recombinant gp120(SF2) in complete Freund's adjuvant (rgp120(SF2)-CFA). Adult female BALB/c mice were imm unized with rgp120(SF2)-CFA 6 weeks before mating. The 3-week-old offs pring were subsequently immunized with the same vaccine and followed f or 9 weeks, Both the total IgG anti-rgp120(SF2) and the anti-V3 IgG an tibody response to vaccine were inhibited in the experimental animals. The total IgG anti-rgp120(SF2) response was <20% of the control respo nse (P < .001) 9 weeks after immunization. Anti-V3 antibody was also d ecreased. As vaccine studies begin in infants, the effects of preexist ing antibody on the infant response to human immunodeficiency virus va ccines must be considered.