Cellular immunity of naïve and BCG vaccinated neonates

Includes abstract. === Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-187). === Despite more than 95% vaccination coverage with Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), tuberculosis (TB) remains epidemic in South Africa. The dichotomy that successful pregnancy is usually associated with a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Watkins, Marcia Linda Vivienne
Other Authors: Kaplan, Gilla
Format: Doctoral Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Cape Town 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10984
Description
Summary:Includes abstract. === Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-187). === Despite more than 95% vaccination coverage with Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), tuberculosis (TB) remains epidemic in South Africa. The dichotomy that successful pregnancy is usually associated with a type 2 (Th2) cytokine profile in the newborn child, whereas immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is associated with the development of a type 1 helper (Th1) cytokine response, could impact on the subsequent adaptive immune response to BCG vaccination. Previous studies have suggested that immune responses in early life may be defective and related to the immaturity of antigen-presenting cells and/or T cells.