Overcoming Gaps In Newborns' Immune Response

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 06 May 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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Newborn babies have immature immune systems, putting them at risk for severe infections and preventing them from mounting an effective immune response to most vaccines. Over the years, Ofer Levy, MD, PhD, of Children's Division of Infectious Diseases, has shown that the newborn immune system functions differently than that of adults, but that one part of the system is fully functional and can be harnessed to boost immunity.

Using agents that stimulate a receptor on immune cells known as Toll-like receptor-8 (TLR8), Levy and Victoria Philbin, PhD, triggered complete, robust responses in immune cells from newborn humans and monkeys. These cells, in turn, produced normal levels of other immune-stimulating compounds - suggesting that agents that stimulate TLR8 could be used as vaccine adjuvants, potentially making infections much less of a threat in vulnerable newborns.

Children's Hospital Boston is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. More than 500 scientists, including eight members of the National Academy of Sciences, 11 members of the Institute of Medicine and 12 members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Children's Hospital Boston today is a 397-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. Children's also is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information about the hospital and its research visit: http://www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom.

Children's Hospital Boston

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