Passive immunization reduces immunity that results from simultaneous active immunization against tick-borne encephalitis virus in a mouse model

Concomitant administration of an antigen and antibodies of the respective specificity has been shown to result in reduced levels of actively produced antibodies. This has also recently been observed in a clinical trial on simultaneous passive and active immunization against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). In the current study the influence of simultaneous passive and active immunization on vaccine induced protective immunity against TBEV has been evaluated in a mouse model. Two immunizations with licensed whole-killed TBEV vaccines gave close to complete protection. Administration of human or mouse TBEV antibodies together with the first vaccine dose resulted in a significant reduction of vaccine induced protection against TBEV challenge. This effect was even more pronounced than that observed earlier on the levels of vaccine induced antibody.