DUSCI

Dr. Kathryn Knoop, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Immunology, Mayo Clinic

Title: Maternal Antibodies Protect Infants from Enteric Pathogens

Abstract:  Infants are vulnerable to infectious diseases due to the immaturity of their immune system, including a delay in producing pathogen-targeting antibodies. Maternal immunization strategies have increased in use to protect infants from respiratory viral diseases, like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus by vertical transfer of protective pathogen-specific antibodies. We hypothesize that maternal immunization could protect nursing offspring against Enterobacteriaceae bacterial species, which have implicated in neonatal bacterial infections including sepsis. This would protect offspring from enteric pathogens and identify the protective factors in maternal milk.