Differences in antibody response to whole-cell pertussis vaccines

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Whole-cell pertussis vaccines (WCVs) are assumed to have comparable immunogenicity due to regulatory standards.
• Recent observations suggest potential disparities in antibody responses among infants receiving different WCVs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the immunogenicity of two commercially available whole-cell pertussis vaccines (WCVs) in infants.
• To assess differences in antibody responses to pertussis toxin induced by WCVs from different manufacturers.

Main Methods:

• Concurrent, similar protocols were used in separate studies at Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins universities.
• Infants were randomized to receive either an acellular pertussis vaccine or a WCV from one of two manufacturers.
• Antibody responses to pertussis toxin were measured and compared between vaccine groups.

Main Results:

• Antibody responses to the acellular pertussis vaccine were consistent across both study sites.
• Infants receiving the Lederle WCV showed a 46-fold increase in antibody to pertussis toxin.
• Infants receiving the Connaught WCV demonstrated only a 2.4-fold increase in antibody to pertussis toxin (P = .00003).
• Comparative data analysis supported significant, consistent differences in pertussis toxin antibody induction between the two WCVs.

Conclusions:

• Commercially available whole-cell pertussis vaccines (WCVs) exhibit significant differences in their ability to induce antibodies against pertussis toxin.
• These immunogenicity variations have critical implications for the design and interpretation of clinical trials comparing WCVs and acellular pertussis vaccines.
• Regulatory standards may not fully capture the functional differences in immunogenicity between WCV products from different manufacturers.