Studies on human lacteal rotavirus antibodies by immune electron microscopy |
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Authors: | B M Totterdell J E Banatvala I L Chrystie |
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Abstract: | In vitro studies carried out by immune electron microscopy (IEM) indicate that rotavirus aggregation detected in the stools of newborn breast-fed infants with rotavirus infection is antibody-induced. Aggregation of rotavirus particles occurred with the IgA-containing fraction of expressed breast milk (EBM) obtained five days postpartum and with the IgA- and IgG-containing fractions of a pool of EBMs containing samples collected 2-3 days postpartum. Bovine milk fractions also demonstrated this activity in the IgG- and IgA-containing fraction. Studies on unfractionated EBMs from a mother who experienced a rotavirus infection during the 43rd week of lactation showed that following rotavirus infection all three major classes of rotavirus-specific antibodies were present in breast milk, this being confirmed by enzyme immunoassay. |
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Keywords: | rotavirus immune electron microscopy breast milk rotavirus class-specific antibodies |
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