Heel-prick blood samples from newborns could provide important insights into protection against serious infection
Heel-prick blood samples from newborns can be used to measure antibodies against group B Streptococcus, according to a new study from Aarhus University published in The Lancet Microbe journal. In the longer term, the method could contribute to the development of vaccines designed to protect infants against serious infections.
A recent study from Aarhus University suggests that heel-prick blood samples taken from newborns can effectively measure antibodies against group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacterium that can cause serious infections in infants. In Denmark, all newborns have a small blood sample taken from their heel, which is typically used for screening rare congenital diseases.
However, this study reveals that these samples can also provide valuable information about GBS antibody levels transferred from the mother to the baby during pregnancy. GBS infections in newborns are a major concern for researchers, who are exploring ways to protect infants. One potential strategy is to vaccinate pregnant women, enabling their immune systems to produce GBS antibodies that can be passed to the baby before birth.
The new study indicates that measuring these antibodies through heel-prick samples could significantly contribute to developing vaccines aimed at preventing GBS infections in newborns. The researchers compared measurements obtained from heel-prick samples and umbilical cord blood with standard blood samples taken from the same newborns.
The results showed that heel-prick samples accurately reflected the levels of GBS antibodies found in standard blood samples, as well as in umbilical cord blood. The ease of collecting, storing, and transporting heel-prick samples makes this method a practical and reliable approach for measuring GBS antibodies. In the short term, the findings are particularly beneficial for researchers and vaccine developers focusing on GBS vaccines for pregnant women.
The study's findings could help determine the optimal level of GBS antibodies required to protect a newborn, potentially paving the way for a vaccine targeting pregnant women. In the long term, the knowledge gained from this study may contribute to the development of an effective vaccine, but further research involving larger populations is necessary to establish the exact antibody levels needed for protection.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
