Maternal-infant rotavirus-specific antibody kinetics to inform timing of vaccine boosting in Malawi: An observational study

Jonathan Mandolo; Leah Mulira; Martha Moyo; Memory Mvula; Fatima Mtonga; Marc Y.R. Henrion; Willy Wotcheni; Nigel A. Cunliffe; Kayla G. Barnes; Kondwani C. Jambo; Khuzwayo C. Jere

doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1004734

Maternal-infant rotavirus-specific antibody kinetics to inform timing of vaccine boosting in Malawi: An observational study

Jonathan Mandolo
, Leah Mulira
, Martha Moyo
, Memory Mvula
, Fatima Mtonga
, Marc Y.R. Henrion
, Willy Wotcheni
, Nigel A. Cunliffe
, Kayla G. Barnes
, Kondwani C. Jambo
, Khuzwayo C. Jere

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Rotavirus vaccine protects against severe rotavirus-related gastroenteritis. Its effectiveness is substantially lower in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income settings, partly due to interference from maternally derived rotavirus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) resulting from high rotavirus burden. These antibodies wane over time, reducing their capacity to inhibit vaccine-induced immune responses, including immunoglobulin A (IgA). We aimed to estimate the optimal window for administering an additional rotavirus vaccine dose, beyond the routine doses given at 6 and 10 weeks of age, to maximise immunogenicity in an LMIC, high-disease-burdened setting.

Original language	English
Article number	e1004734
Journal	PLoS Medicine
Volume	22
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004734
Publication status	Published - 12 Sept 2025

Themes

Maternal, Neonatal, Sexual and Reproductive Health
Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1371/journal.pmed.1004734Licence: CC BY

journal.pmed.1004734Final published version, 1.79 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{4ad88dc67cde4bad8c2382915eecfae7,

title = "Maternal-infant rotavirus-specific antibody kinetics to inform timing of vaccine boosting in Malawi: An observational study",

abstract = "Rotavirus vaccine protects against severe rotavirus-related gastroenteritis. Its effectiveness is substantially lower in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income settings, partly due to interference from maternally derived rotavirus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) resulting from high rotavirus burden. These antibodies wane over time, reducing their capacity to inhibit vaccine-induced immune responses, including immunoglobulin A (IgA). We aimed to estimate the optimal window for administering an additional rotavirus vaccine dose, beyond the routine doses given at 6 and 10 weeks of age, to maximise immunogenicity in an LMIC, high-disease-burdened setting.",

author = "Jonathan Mandolo and Leah Mulira and Martha Moyo and Memory Mvula and Fatima Mtonga and Henrion, \{Marc Y.R.\} and Willy Wotcheni and Cunliffe, \{Nigel A.\} and Barnes, \{Kayla G.\} and Jambo, \{Kondwani C.\} and Jere, \{Khuzwayo C.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Mandolo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1371/journal.pmed.1004734",

language = "English",

volume = "22",

journal = "PLoS Medicine",

issn = "1549-1277",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

number = "9",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Maternal-infant rotavirus-specific antibody kinetics to inform timing of vaccine boosting in Malawi: An observational study

AU - Mandolo, Jonathan

AU - Mulira, Leah

AU - Moyo, Martha

AU - Mvula, Memory

AU - Mtonga, Fatima

AU - Henrion, Marc Y.R.

AU - Wotcheni, Willy

AU - Cunliffe, Nigel A.

AU - Barnes, Kayla G.

AU - Jambo, Kondwani C.

AU - Jere, Khuzwayo C.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Mandolo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

PY - 2025/9/12

Y1 - 2025/9/12

N2 - Rotavirus vaccine protects against severe rotavirus-related gastroenteritis. Its effectiveness is substantially lower in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income settings, partly due to interference from maternally derived rotavirus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) resulting from high rotavirus burden. These antibodies wane over time, reducing their capacity to inhibit vaccine-induced immune responses, including immunoglobulin A (IgA). We aimed to estimate the optimal window for administering an additional rotavirus vaccine dose, beyond the routine doses given at 6 and 10 weeks of age, to maximise immunogenicity in an LMIC, high-disease-burdened setting.

AB - Rotavirus vaccine protects against severe rotavirus-related gastroenteritis. Its effectiveness is substantially lower in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income settings, partly due to interference from maternally derived rotavirus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) resulting from high rotavirus burden. These antibodies wane over time, reducing their capacity to inhibit vaccine-induced immune responses, including immunoglobulin A (IgA). We aimed to estimate the optimal window for administering an additional rotavirus vaccine dose, beyond the routine doses given at 6 and 10 weeks of age, to maximise immunogenicity in an LMIC, high-disease-burdened setting.

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004734

DO - 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004734

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105015825625

SN - 1549-1277

VL - 22

JO - PLoS Medicine

JF - PLoS Medicine

IS - 9

M1 - e1004734

ER -

Maternal-infant rotavirus-specific antibody kinetics to inform timing of vaccine boosting in Malawi: An observational study

Abstract

Themes

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this