Epstein-Barr virus influences the induction of protective antibody responses in young African children vaccinated with the RTS,S malaria vaccine

EBV seropositivity in 314 West African children aged 5–29 months vaccinated with RTS,S is linked to lower RTS,S antigen-specific IgG and IgA levels.

• Why it matters: Malaria vaccine protection is only moderate, and early, common viral infections in Africa may contribute to weaker antibody responses that are associated with protection.
• What they did: The study measured RTS,S-induced antigen-specific IgG and IgA in young vaccinated children and tested associations with latent CMV/EBV infection status.
• The result: EBV-linked reductions in IgG and IgA suggest EBV may partly explain suboptimal RTS,S antibody responses where early EBV infection is prevalent.

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