Influence of Age on Antibody Response and Persistence Following Immunization With MenAfriVac

Abstract

Background. A meningococcal group A conjugate vaccine, PsA-TT (MenAfriVac), developed through the Meningitis Vaccine Project and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, Ltd, was tested in multiple clinical trials conducted mainly in Africa. The impact of age at which subjects were vaccinated on immune response and persistence postimmunization with PsA-TT was the main focus of the current analysis.

Methods. Subjects who were vaccinated with a single dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT at 12–23 months or 22–33 months of age in study A conducted in Mali and The Gambia; at 2–10 years, 11–17 years, or 18–29 years of age in study B conducted in Mali, The Gambia, and Senegal; and at 14–18 weeks, 9–12 months, or 12–18 months of age in study C conducted in Ghana are included in the current analysis. Immunogenicity was measured by group A serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) titer with baby rabbit complement.

Results. Significant differences in SBA titers were found among the age groups in studies B and C both 28 days and 1 year postimmunization. A significant difference in SBA titers between age groups 12–23 months and 22–33 months was only observed 1 year postimmunization in study A. Antibody titers remained at similar levels from 1 to 2 years postimmunization for subjects vaccinated at 12–23 months in study A and at 9–12 months or 12–18 months of age in study C.

Conclusions. Subjects immunized at different ages had different postimmunization immune responses as measured by SBA titers. Toddlers tended to have higher immune responses than infants. This pattern persisted at least 1 year postimmunization.

Clinical Trials Registration. ISRCTN78147026 (study A), ISRCTN87739946 (study B), and ISRCTN82484612 (study C).

A meningococcal group A conjugate vaccine has been developed through the Meningitis Vaccine Project (MVP) to eliminate epidemics of group A Neisseria meningitidis in the African sub-Saharan “meningitis belt,” which stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia [1, 2]. MenAfriVac, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, Ltd (SIIL), consists of 10 µg of meningococcal A polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid (PsA-TT) conjugate vaccine and was prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 2010 for use in 1- to 29-year-olds [3]. It is important for policy makers to determine feasible and sustainable immunization strategies to maximize the long-term effectiveness of the vaccine. This paper explores the impact of age effect on meningococcal group A antibody response and persistence following vaccination with a single dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT in individuals between 14 weeks and 29 years of age.

A number of clinical trials were conducted in different locations in West Africa to evaluate the group A conjugate vaccine, PsA-TT. In 3 of these trials, the vaccine was tested in participants with different age ranges. This analysis surveyed these 3 trials and describes the effects of age on the antibody response to the vaccine to support determination of optimal immunization schedules for the vaccine.

METHODS

The immunogenicity results of a single 10-µg dose of PsA-TT from 3 African trials are investigated. Protocols for the 3 studies have been reported elsewhere [4, Hodgson et al, unpublished data]. The trials were designed and conducted in accordance with the Good Clinical Practice guidelines created by the International Conference on Harmonisation and with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Overview of the Studies

In study A, healthy toddlers aged 12–23 months were recruited from Mali and The Gambia and randomly assigned to receive either PsA-TT (10 µg), PsACWY (Mencevax ACWY, GlaxoSmithKline), or the Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate Hib-TT (Hiberix, GlaxoSmithKline) in equal proportions at the first vaccination. Ten months later, subjects received a second vaccination with 1 of these 3 vaccines according to a within-group randomization scheme. The detailed design of this study has been presented by Sow et al [4]. The subjects who were vaccinated with a single 10-µg dose of PsA-TT at 12–23 months of age during the first vaccination, and one-third of them who received Hib-TT during the second vaccination, are included in the present study. Subjects who received a single dose of the PsA-TT at 22–33 months of age during the second vaccination following the administration of Hib-TT during the first vaccination are also part of the present study.

In study B, healthy subjects aged 2–29 years were recruited from Mali, The Gambia, and Senegal, evenly stratified into 3 age groups: 2–10 years, 11–17 years, and 18–29 years, and randomly assigned in a ratio of 2:1 to receive the 10 µg of PsA-TT or the PsACWY. The subjects who received PsA-TT in the 3 age groups are part of the current analysis.

In study C, healthy infants of 14–18 weeks of age were recruited from Ghana and randomly assigned to 6 groups, 5 groups where subjects received PsA-TT with different dosages and schedules, concomitantly with vaccines according to the local Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and 1 control group where subjects only received EPI vaccines. There were 3 vaccinations over the course of the study, given at 14–18 weeks, 9–12 months, and 12–18 months of age, respectively. The details of the study design have been described elsewhere by Hodgson et al (unpublished data). The subjects who received a single 10-µg dose of PsA-TT at 14–18 weeks, 9–12 months, or 12–18 months of age are included in the current analysis.

For the subjects who are included in the present study, the age categories prior to vaccination with PsA-TT and vaccine(s) received in each study are provided in Table 1.

Immunogenicity Evaluation

This paper analyzes serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) titer to Neisseria meningitidis group A capsular polysaccharide, measured by an internationally standardized SBA assay using the standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory strain F8238 and baby rabbit complement [5]. The assays were performed at the Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Public Health England (formerly Health Protection Agency), Manchester, United Kingdom. The lower limit of detection for the assay was an SBA titer of 4.

In each of the 3 studies, at maximum 4 blood draws are included in the current study. Blood samples obtained before vaccination with PsA-TT and 28 days after the vaccination are part of this analysis. Contingent upon availability, the blood samples collected at 1 and 2 years, approximately, following the vaccination with PsA-TT are of interest as well. Specifically, for subjects who received PsA-TT at 12–23 months in study A and at 9–12 months or 12–18 months of age in study C, all 4 blood samples were available for this analysis. For subjects who were vaccinated with PsA-TT at 22–33 months in study A and at 2–10 years, 11–17 years, or 18–29 years of age in study B, 3 blood samples (before, 28 days after, and 1 year after vaccination with PsA-TT) were available. Because subjects vaccinated with a single dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT at 14–18 weeks of age in study C received a second dose of PsA-TT at 9–12 months old, only 2 blood samples collected prior to the first dose of PsA-TT and 28 days after the first dose are included in this analysis for these subjects. For the blood samples included in the present analysis, the scheduled times when they were collected in each of the 3 studies are reported in Table 1.

Statistical Analysis

SBA geometric mean titers (GMTs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. SBA GMTs prior to immunization with PsA-TT were compared using t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). SBA GMTs between the age groups within each study at 28 days, 1 year, and 2 years postimmunization were compared using a mixed-effects model adjusted for preimmunization titers, sex, time, and interaction effects of interest with log₂-transformed titers as outcomes. Reverse cumulative distribution curves of SBA titers are provided at each time point. Analyses were carried out in the intention-to-treat population. Missing data were treated as missing at random. All tests were 2-sided with a significance level of .05. Data analysis was done using SAS software, version 9.1.3.

RESULTS

Study Population

In study A, among 201 toddlers aged 12–23 months who received a single dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT at the first vaccination, 65 and 64 are part of this analysis at 1 year and 2 years after the first vaccination, respectively. Among 63 toddlers who were vaccinated with a single 10-µg dose of PsA-TT at 22–33 months of age during the second vaccination, 60 are available for this analysis at 1 year postvaccination with PsA-TT.

In study B, 604 subjects received a single 10 µg dose of PsA-TT at baseline, 203 in the age group 2–10 years, 202 in the age group 11–17 years, and 199 in the age group 18–29 years. Five hundred eighty-five subjects remained 1 year after vaccination, 202 in the age group 2–10 years, 196 aged 11–17 years, and 187 aged 18–29 years.

In study C, 200 subjects received a dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT at the age of 14–18 weeks, 189 subjects were vaccinated with PsA-TT at 9–12 months, and 190 subjects were vaccinated with PsA-TT at 12–18 months of age. Subjects who received a dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT at age 14–18 weeks were vaccinated with another dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT at 9–12 months. The data related to the second dose and subsequent follow-up visits for these subjects are not included in the current analysis. Approximately 1 year after vaccination, 177 subjects vaccinated with PsA-TT at 9–12 months of age and 183 subjects vaccinated with PsA-TT at 12–18 months of age remained in the study. About 2 years after vaccination with PsA-TT, 171 subjects vaccinated at 9–12 months of age and 181 subjects vaccinated at 12–18 months completed the study.

The number of subjects available for the blood draws that were part of the present analysis and the actual average follow-up time from vaccination with PsA-TT to a particular blood draw are summarized in Table 1. The demographics prior to immunization with 10 µg of PsA-TT are presented in Table 1 as well. The youngest subjects were from study C and the oldest participants were from study B.

SBA Titers Prior to Immunization

SBA GMTs and 95% CIs are presented in Table 2. Reverse cumulative distribution curves of SBA titers are displayed in Figure 1. Prior to immunization, the SBA GMT of the subjects who were to receive PsA-TT at 22–33 months of age was significantly different from that of the subjects who were to be vaccinated with PsA-TT at 12–23 months of age in study A (42.6 [95% CI, 20.3–89.4] vs 14.3 [95% CI, 9.9–20.7]; P = .0059). No significant difference in SBA GMT was found among subjects who were scheduled to receive PsA-TT at age of 2–10 years, 11–17 years, and 18–29 years in study B, with GMTs of 209.8 (95% CI, 144.4–304.7), 264.9 (95% CI, 187.7–374.0), and 199.9 (95% CI, 138.5–288.6), respectively. In study C, the GMT for subjects who would receive PsA-TT at age of 12–18 months (7.8 [95% CI, 5.4–11.3]) was significantly different from those who were to be vaccinated at 9–12 months (3.2 [95% CI, 2.5–3.9]) and those scheduled to be vaccinated at 14–18 weeks (2.2 [95% CI, 2.1–2.2]; P < .0001 for both comparisons). Subjects who were to receive PsA-TT at the youngest age had the lowest GMT (P = .0315 for age group of 14–18 weeks vs age group of 9–12 months). According to Figure 1A, subjects in study B seemed to have higher SBA titers than younger subjects in studies A and C prior to immunization with PsA-TT.

SBA Titers 28 Days Postimmunization

At 28 days postimmunization with a single dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT, the SBA GMT was 6234.5 (95% CI, 4947.9–7855.7) for subjects 12–23 months of age and 9342.9 (95% CI, 7043.8–12 392.4) for those at 22–33 months of age in study A. The difference in GMTs between these 2 age groups was not statistically significant after adjusting for preimmunization SBA titers, sex, and time. In study B, subjects who were vaccinated at younger ages had greater SBA GMTs 1 month after vaccination with GMTs of 6743.2 (95% CI, 5900.7–7705.9) for 2- to 10-year-olds, 4618.7 (95% CI, 4029.4–5294.2) for 11- to 17-year-olds, and 3331.6 (95% CI, 2872.3–3864.4) for 18- to 29-year-olds. These means were significantly different from each other, with P = .0003 comparing 2–10 years vs 11–17 years, P < .0001 for 2–10 years vs 18–29 years, and P = .0023 for 11–17 years vs 18–29 years. In study C, subjects vaccinated at age of 14–18 weeks had the lowest GMT among the 3 age groups (1138.9 [95% CI, 866.3–1497.3]), compared with 2776.2 (95% CI, 2290.7–3364.6) in those aged 9–12 months, and 3170.4 (95% CI, 2656.6–3783.6) in those aged 12–18 months. The GMT for the 14- to 18-week-olds was significantly different than the GMTs of those aged 9–12 months and 12–18 months (P < .0001). The SBA GMT of subjects vaccinated at 9–12 months was not significantly different from that of subjects vaccinated at 12–18 months of age 1 month after vaccination. As shown in Figure 1B, subjects in study A tended to have higher SBA titers than subjects in studies B and C 28 days postimmunization with PsA-TT.

SBA Titers 1 Year and 2 Years Postimmunization

One year following vaccination with a single dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT, the SBA GMT of subjects vaccinated at 22–33 months was significantly different than those immunized at 12–23 months of age in study A (2527.6 [95% CI, 1796.9–3555.5] vs 1035.0 [95% CI, 678.4–1578.9]; P = .0022). In study B, the SBA GMTs of the younger subjects were greater than the older participants. Those aged 2–10 years had a GMT of 3485.9 (95% CI, 3086.4–3937.2), those 11–17 years had a GMT of 3075.8 (95% CI, 2641.6–3581.3), and those 18–29 years had a GMT of 2206.5 (95% CI, 1837.6–2649.4). The GMT for the 18- to 29-year-olds was significantly different than that of the 11- to 17-year-olds (P = .0038) and 2- to 10-year-olds (P < .0001). In study C (on average 15 months following vaccination at 9–12 months and 9 months following vaccination 12–18 months of age), the SBA GMT of subjects who received PsA-TT at 12–18 months was significantly different than that of subjects vaccinated at 9–12 months of age (786.9 [95% CI, 595.2–1040.5] vs 365.6 [95% CI, 259.2–515.8]; P = .0026). The pattern shown in Figure 1C corroborates the above results. Figure 1C also indicates that the cumulative distribution of SBA titers of subjects vaccinated at 12–23 months of age in study A resembled those of subjects vaccinated at 12–18 months of age in study C and were lower than those of subjects in study B at 1 year postimmunization.

Two years after vaccination with a single dose of 10 µg of PsA-TT, the SBA GMT of subjects vaccinated at 12–23 months was 1313.7 (95% CI, 875.1–1971.9) in study A. This was not significantly different than the GMT of this same age group 1 year postimmunization after adjusting for preimmunization SBA titers, sex, and time. In study C (on average 27 months following vaccination at 9–12 months and 21 months following vaccination at 12–18 months of age), the GMT of subjects vaccinated at 12–18 months was significantly different from that of subjects vaccinated at 9–12 months of age (827.6 [95% CI, 610.1–1122.5] vs 481.6 [95% CI, 344.9–672.5]; P = .0282). The SBA GMTs remained at similar levels from 1 year to 2 years postimmunization for subjects vaccinated at different ages. Figure 1D shows that subjects who were vaccinated at younger ages tended to have lower SBA titers 2 years after vaccination.

DISCUSSION

This article demonstrates the impact of age on immune response and persistence following immunization with PsA-TT (MenAfriVac). Prior to immunization, subjects who were to receive PsA-TT at the youngest ages (14–18 weeks, 9–12 months, and 12–18 months) from study C had the lowest SBA GMTs, whereas subjects in the oldest age groups (2–10, 11–17, and 18–29 years) from study B had the highest SBA GMTs. A similar pattern was observed within each of studies A and C where participants were younger as well, with the younger subjects showing lower SBA GMTs than the older participants, which is a reflection of an increase in natural immunity with age due to the endemic nature of N. meningitidis group A in sub-Saharan Africa and also through exposure to bacteria whose capsules share common moieties with the group A meningococcal capsule [6–8]. As age increased, levels of natural immunity, as measured by SBA GMTs, remained at similar levels in the age groups 2–10, 11–17, and 18–29 years.

One month after vaccination with MenAfriVac, the youngest age group of subjects, 2–10 years, had the greatest SBA GMTs in study B. However, the opposite trend was observed in study C; the subjects vaccinated at 14–18 weeks had the lowest postimmunization SBA GMT among the 3 age groups. Most of the subjects in study A tended to have higher 1-month postimmunization SBA titers than subjects in studies B and C. There are a number of possibilities as to why the 2- to 10-year-olds had the highest SBA GMTs in study B. First, this could be because, with increasing age, the likelihood of exposure to polysaccharide also increases. This exposure can either be positive in the induction of functional SBAs or detrimental in the induction of hyporesponsiveness. Hyporesponsiveness or lower antibody responses have been documented following multiple doses of polysaccharide vaccine, and also lower responses to conjugate vaccine when previously exposed to polysaccharide vaccine [9–11]. Second, this observation may be due to the induction of different quantities of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses that have different efficacy in fixing complement and thus induce different levels of SBA activity. IgG1 and IgG3, as opposed to IgG2, are the most effective of the subclasses in fixing complement. Of most interest is that IgG3 has a greater ability to activate complement than IgG1, has a shorter half-life, and may be present at higher levels in infants and young children than in older children [12].

At 1 year postimmunization, it was shown that, among the 3 studies, subjects who received PsA-TT at the youngest ages in study C still had lowest SBA titers. Within each of the 2 studies with younger participants, subjects vaccinated at younger ages had lower SBA titers than subjects vaccinated at older ages. A considerable drop in SBA GMTs from 28 days to 1 year after vaccination was observed across all age groups, with a larger drop in the younger subjects within each study (83.4% drop in those aged 12–23 months vs 72.9% in age 22–33 months in study A; 48.3% drop in age 2–10 years vs 33.4% in 11–17 years and 33.8% in 18–29 years in study B; 86.8% drop in age 9–12 months vs 75.2% in age 12–18 months in study C). There were limited data available 2 years postimmunization. The SBA GMTs remained at the similar level from 1 year to 2 years postimmunization for subjects vaccinated at 9–12 months and 12–18 months of age in study C and subjects vaccinated at 12–23 months of age in study A. This has demonstrated that immune response to vaccination dropped quickly from peak level at 28 days postimmunization to plateau at 1 year through to 2 years postvaccination.

It is recognized that there was 6 months’ difference in average follow-up time from vaccination with PsA-TT to the last 2 blood samples between subjects vaccinated at 9–12 months and 12–18 months of age in study C. A further investigation is warranted to determine whether or not this difference contributed largely to the observed difference in GMT at 1 year and 2 years postimmunization between the 2 groups of subjects in study C. It is unknown whether other antigens received in study A and in study C affected antibody response induced by PsA-TT or not. Further research is also needed.

After vaccination with MenAfriVac, it was shown that toddlers tended to have greater immune response than infants. In addition, an early sharp antibody decline was observed, with more rapid waning in infants than in toddlers, reaching lower levels 1 year postvaccination. No further decline was observed at 2 years postvaccination, and SBA titers remained sustained in both infants and toddlers.

The results presented in this study, along with epidemiological evidence and programmatic considerations, support the WHO recommendations for the optimal age for routine immunization with meningococcal group A conjugate vaccine: a 1-dose schedule at 9–18 months of age [13]. Documentation of long-term persistence of the immune response and determination of correlates of protection are needed.

Notes

Acknowledgments. The authors thank the study subjects and their families and communities for participating in the 3 studies; the study investigators and field staff at the Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins (Bamako, Mali), the Medical Research Council (Basse, The Gambia), the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (Niakhar, Senegal), and Navrongo Health Research Centre of Ghana Health Service (Navrongo, Ghana); and teams at the Meningitis Vaccine Project in France, at DiagnoSearch Life Science, and at Serum Institute of India, Ltd, in India.

Disclaimers. 1) The authors and editors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this publication and they do not necessarily represent the views, decisions, or policies of the institutions with which they are affiliated; 2) The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of PATH or the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement; 3) The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by PATH or the WHO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.

Financial support. The studies that are included in this article were funded by the Meningitis Vaccine Project (PATH) with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Supplement sponsorship. This article appears as part of the supplement “The Meningitis Vaccine Project: The Development, Licensure, Introduction, and Impact of a New Group A Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine for Africa,” sponsored by the Meningitis Vaccine Project through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Potential conflicts of interest. M.-P. P. has received institutional grant support from PATH, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the Shefa Fund hosted by the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, the National Philanthropic Trust, the Research Council of Norway, and the US Agency for International Development, and has received travel support from PATH and the Research Council of Norway. All other authors report no potential conflicts.

All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.

References

Author notes