Reciprocal interference of maternal and infant immunization in protection against pertussis

Because of the current re-emergence of pertussis, vaccination during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy is recommended in several countries in order to protect neonates by placental transfer of maternal antibodies. Here, we examined the potential reciprocal interference of mother and infant vaccination in protection against pertussis in mice.

Female mice were vaccinated with acellular pertussis vaccines and protection against Bordetella pertussis challenge, as well as functional antibodies were measured in their offspring with or without re-vaccination.

Maternal immunization protected the offspring against B. pertussis challenge, but protection waned quickly and was lost after vaccination of the infant mice with the same vaccine. Without affecting antibody titers, infant vaccination reduced the protective functions of maternally-derived antibodies, evidenced both in vitro and in vivo. Protection induced by infant vaccination was also affected by maternal antibodies. However, when mothers and infants were immunized with two different vaccines, no interference of infant vaccination on the protective effects of maternal antibodies was noted.

It may be important to determine the functionality of antibodies to evaluate potential interference of maternal and infant vaccination in protection against pertussis.