Intranasal murine model of Bordetella pertussis infection: II. Sequence variation and protection induced by a tricomponent acellular vaccine

Abstract

When pertussis toxin S1 subunit and pertactin structural genes in Bordetella pertussis clinical isolates from France and Germany were sequenced, 3 previously described S1 subunit types (S1 A, B and E), and 4 pertactin types (PRN A, B, C, A*) were found. PRN A*, present in the WHO reference strain 18323, was not described previously. In a respiratory mouse model, a tricomponent acellular pertussis vaccine (Infanrix) was highly effective in promoting lung clearance of all isolates expressing different S1 subunit and pertactin suggesting that use of acellular vaccine will not increase the risks of pertussis infection by these B. pertussis variants.