Maternal immunoglobulin allotype (Gm and Km) and neonatal group B streptococcal infection

Gm and Km(1) allotypes in 37 mothers of neonates with severe Group B streptococcal (GBS) infection were compared with 115 mothers of non-infected infants, 36 of whom were known to be colonized with GBS. Deficits in G1m(1) and Km(1), and an increased incidence of G2m(23), were found in mothers of infected infants. Km(1) was associated mainly with the phenotype Gm(1, (2), 3, 17; 23; 5, 10, 11, 21) in mothers of infected infants while being uniformly distributed in mothers of non-infected infants. This study would seem, therefore, to support reports of Gm and Km(1) allotype involvement in maternal response to GBS infection and immunity in the new-born.