HOMOTYPIC IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO PRIMARY INFECTION WITH ROTAVIRUS SEROTYPE G1

Some aspects of rotavirus humoral immunity were assessed on the basis of distinguishing serotype-specific specificities (VP4/VP7) by using rotavirus reassortants, human and animal strains in neutralization assays in serum samples obtained during the acute phase, and 1, 6 and 12 months after primary natural infection. In this study, all the infecting virus strains were characterized as G type and some also as P type. Primary natural infection induces a significantly greater homotypic neutralization response than heterotypic response. In addition, there was no significant difference in the number of homotypic or heterotypic responses following reinfection. Transplacentally acquired homotypic antibodies were associated with protection against dehydration during rotavirus gastroenteritis. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.