Maternal Secretor Status Affects Oral Rotavirus Vaccine Response in Breastfed Infants in Bangladesh

Abstract

Secretor status controls mucosal histo-blood group antigen expression and is associated with susceptibility to rotavirus (RV) diarrhea, with nonsecretors less susceptible to symptomatic infection. The role of breast milk secretor status on oral live-attenuated RV vaccine response in breastfed infants has not been explored. In a monovalent G1P[8] RV vaccine (Rotarix) trial in Bangladesh, RV-specific plasma immunoglobulin A antibody seroconversion rates were higher among infants of maternal nonsecretors (39%) than infants of maternal secretors (23%; P =. 001). Maternal status remained a significant predictor when correcting for infant status (P =. 002). Maternal secretor status should be considered when interpreting oral RV vaccine responses in low- and middle-income settings.