Impact of maternal antibodies on protective efficacy of rotavirus vaccine: a review
Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis among children under five years of age worldwide. Most children are infected with rotavirus in their early childhood. Currently, no effective treatment is available for diarrhea caused by rotavirus infection, and vaccination is the most effective way to prevent rotavirus infection. With the introduction of rotavirus vaccines, the morbidity and mortality of severe diarrhea in children caused by rotavirus infection are declined significantly, but these rotavirus vaccines have significantly lower efficacy in developing countries in Africa and some countries in Asia where the mortality of rotavirus-related diseases is high than in developed countries. High titers of maternal antibodies may be one of the reasons why the efficacy of rotavirus vaccines is low in these countries. Extensive studies have been conducted on the relationship between neonatal response to rotavirus vaccine immunization and rotavirus-specific antibodies in the mother′s milk and serum in recent years. However, results of some studies are in conflict. In this review, we summarize the relationship between maternal antibodies and the immune responses after vaccination with rotavirus vaccines in order to provide basis for improving the efficacy of rotavirus vaccines in low-income countries. 
 
 
Key words: 
Rotavirus; Maternal antibody; Milk antibody; Vaccine; Immune response