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Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
Published on: February 22, 2019
Pertussis vaccine: a critique
John B Robbins1, Rachel Schneerson, Jerry M Keith
1Fogarty International Center, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2423, USA. robbinsJo@mail.nih.gov
Abstract:
A critical level of serum IgG pertussis toxin antibody is both essential and sufficient to confer individual and herd immunity to pertussis. Monocomponent pertussis toxoid conferred such immunity in Sweden and in Denmark. We refute the notion that filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, and fimbriae add to the immunity conferred by pertussis toxoid and describe the artifact created when efficacy is estimated for multicomponent pertussis vaccines. Lastly, the genetically-inactivated mutant pertussis toxoid is safer, more immunogenic, and should be more effective than the current chemically-inactivated pertussis toxin.
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