The Baby Steps of Infant Immunity
LC-MS profiling shows rapid establishment of systemic immunity in infants
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Newborns start producing their own antibodies within weeks of birth, rather than relying solely on maternal immunity.
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The study utilized LC-MS-based Fab profiling to analyze antibody repertoires in maternal and infant samples.
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At birth, infant serum primarily contained maternal IgG1, while IgA1 was nearly absent.
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By 7-11 weeks postpartum, infants produced new IgA1 and IgG1 antibodies that did not overlap with maternal sources.
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The findings challenge the assumption that IgA from breast milk enters the infant bloodstream, indicating a rapid establishment of systemic immunity.
