# SUBCLASS RESPONSE TO POLYSACCHARIDE ANTIGENS IN CHILDREN

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $148,176

## Abstract

This study is designed to assess the subclass distribution and clonal
diversity of antibodies to group A streptococcal carbohydrate (GAC),
phosphocholine (PC) and H. influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (PRP)
in normal children, and in children with (IgG2) deficiency, asplenia, and
sickle cell anemia.  Studies in mice have shown that anti-polysaccharide
(anti-PS) anitbodies are restricted to a particular subclass, IgG3.  Normal
infant mice, and a strain of immunodeficient mice, CBA/N, lack the ability
to secrete antibodies of this subclass, and are susceptible to infections
caused by PS encapsulated organisms.  Similarly, many human anti-PS
antibodies are restricted to a subclass IgG2 which is late to develop in
normal children.  Further, deficiencies of IgG2 have been recognized in
children and adults with recurrent bacterial infections.  We propose that
the increased susceptibility of normal children and certain groups of
patients, including those with asplenia and SS, to infections caused by PS
encapsulated bacteria is due, at least in part, to IgG2 deficiency.
Studies outlined in this proposal will examine the relation of IgG2 to the
magnitude and clonal diversity of anti-PS antibodies in these subjects.  In
addition, factors responsible for increasing diversity and changes in
clonal dominance observed by isolectric focusing of human anti-GAC
antibodies will be analyzed.  Specifically, the contributions of
subclasses, light chains and idiotype expression will be examined.
Finally, human hybridoma antibodies specific for GAC and PC will be
produced.  These will be used to study the functional capacity of various
subclasses and to develop anti-idiotype reagents.  The latter will serve as
probes to examine the relation of particular V regions to IEF clonotype
patterns, and to determine, in young children, the relation between
antibody secretion and V region expression on B cell surfaces.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3128724
- **Project number:** 5R01AI019350-06
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** L6NFUM28LQM5
- **Principal Investigator:** PENELOPE G SHACKELFORD
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $148,176
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-09-01 → 1988-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3128724

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3128724, SUBCLASS RESPONSE TO POLYSACCHARIDE ANTIGENS IN CHILDREN (5R01AI019350-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3128724. Licensed CC0.

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