Findings May Strengthen Babies' Immune Systems

A recent discovery by a team of researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston may allow babies to be vaccinated against pathogens including influenza, whooping cough, and ear infections the day they are born rather than after the typical two-month waiting period.

Led by Harvard Medical School Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Ofer Levy, a team of researchers found a receptor in babies’ white blood cells that may make them respond better to life-saving vaccines.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which lie on the surface of certain white blood cells, serve to detect invading viruses and bacteria. They then cause the production of cytokine proteins, which activate other immune cells against the infection.

Levy and his team, which consisted of Eugenie E. Suter ’03 and Professor of Pediatrics Michael R. Wessels, demonstrated that a specific TLR, known as TLR8, generated stronger immune system activity in newborns.

This discovery could lead to the addition of TLR8 stimulants to vaccines in order to strengthen the newborns’ immune systems, according to Levy.

“Efforts to protect newborn babies are frustrated by the fact that most vaccines don’t work for them,” Levy said.

Levy described the implications of his research in both wealthy and poor countries.

In modern countries, Levy said, there is a window of vulnerability that exists before children receive their first vaccines at about two months. Newborn babies have a high risk of contracting infectious diseases because of their immature immune systems, according to Levy.

“This discovery can help close this window,” he said.

Globally, this research has the potential to increase the percentage of children who ever receive vaccinations.

“In places like Africa, India, and Asia, the only time a child may ever see a health care provider is at birth. If children are vaccinated on the day they’re born, we can reach much more of the population,” Levy said.

In a statement, Levy speculated that the discovery could help infants fight infections that are already in progress and could even be used in the threat of biological terrorism to boost general immunity to bioagents.

Levy said the next step was developing an animal model in the next few years, and then in about five or six years carrying out human studies.

Said Suter, “Doing this research has been tremendous, and we have great hope for its relevance.”

For now, though, Levy said he is very excited by the implications of his work.

Vaccinating newborns is “an unmet need,” said Levy.

“This is the reason I wake up every morning and do what I do.”