Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
08:52

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice

Published on: February 22, 2019

Factors contributing to pertussis resurgence

Qiushui He1, Jussi Mertsola

  • 1Pertussis Reference Laboratory, National Public Health Institute, Kiinamyllynkatu 13, 20520 Turku, Finland. qiushui.he@ktl.fi

Future Microbiology
|May 29, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Pertussis, a vaccine-preventable illness, is resurging globally despite widespread immunization. This resurgence is linked to waning immunity and changes in the pertussis bacteria, posing risks to infants.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) remains a significant global health threat, causing substantial mortality and morbidity despite extensive vaccination efforts.
  • A concerning resurgence of pertussis is evident even in populations with high immunization rates, particularly affecting adolescents and adults who can transmit the disease to vulnerable infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize recent findings on the factors contributing to the resurgence of pertussis in highly immunized populations.
  • To discuss the implications of antigenic divergence between vaccine strains and circulating pertussis bacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and surveillance data on pertussis epidemiology.
  • Analysis of studies investigating vaccine-induced immunity duration and bacterial evolution.

Main Results:

  • Multiple factors contribute to pertussis resurgence, including increased disease awareness, improved diagnostics, enhanced surveillance, and waning vaccine immunity.
  • Antigenic divergence between pertussis vaccine strains and contemporary clinical isolates has been identified in numerous countries with high vaccination coverage.

Conclusions:

  • The resurgence of pertussis is a complex issue driven by immunological and microbiological factors.
  • Understanding these factors, including antigenic drift, is crucial for developing effective strategies to control pertussis in vaccinated populations and protect infants.

More Related Videos

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses11:48

Generation, Amplification, and Titration of Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Viruses

Published on: April 4, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...