Immunological links to nonspecific effects of DTwP and BCG vaccines on infant mortality

A number of mainly observational studies suggest that many african females below the age of one year die each year from the nonspecific effects of vaccination with diphtheria-tetanus toxoids and killed (whole-cell) bordetella pertussis (dtwp). in contrast,similar studies suggest that many african females and males may have their lives saved each year by the nonspecific immunological benefits of bacillus calmette-guerin (bcg) vaccination. from an immunological point of view,we hypothesise that the adverse effects of dtwp vaccine may occur because of the th2-polarising effect of the aluminium phosphate adjuvant in the vaccine and because intramuscular administration of the vaccine may cause chronic inflammation at the site of injection. however,the th1-polarising effect of bcg is likely to be beneficial. sexual dimorphism affecting immune functions and vitamin a supplementation may influence both the deleterious and beneficial nonspecific effects of immunisation. copyright © 2011 mogens helweg claesson.