Evaluation of antibodies elicited by immunization with pertussis toxin

The monoclonal antibody termed 1B7 neutralizes pertussis toxin in vivo in cell culture systems and can also passively protect mice from a challenge with live Bordetella pertussis (9). It has been suggested that most other independently derived neutralizing monoclonal antibodies recognizing the S1 subunit apparently recognize the same epitope as 1B7, and that the S1 subunit contains only one immunodominant protective epitope (1). These antibodies have been termed Class A antibodies (8) and inhibit the ADP-ribosyltransferase but not the NAD glycohydrolase activity of the toxin (7). We are testing the hypothesis that immunization with inactivated preparations of pertussis toxin that lead to protection are associated with the production of Class A antibodies. If true, then identification of Class A antibodies in sera might provide a serological correlate of protection. If false, then development of assays designed to detect the important protective antibodies are necessary. Our initial results suggest that Class A antibodies are not the predominant neutralizing antibody in mice immunized with vaccines containing formalin-treated pertussis toxin.