Mathematical model of the antibody response to hepatitis B vaccines: implications for reduced schedules.

One of the cardinal features of the immune response is immune memory: the size of the secondary antibody response to vaccination reflects the amount of immune memory that has been generated in an individual by the priming dose. We construct a mathematical model of the generation of immune memory and antibody in response to hepatitis B vaccines. The model predictions are compared to post-vaccination antibody titres from eight adult vaccine trials. The model demonstrates significant differences between different vaccines in both the time taken to generate immune memory and the amount of memory generated. The model provides theoretical support for the hypothesis that a single vaccine dose can generate protective immune memory.