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Immunomodulation by Bordetella pertussis: antiviral effects

Developments in Biological Standardization
|January 1, 1985
PubMed

Insights

Pertussis vaccine components, particularly endotoxin, induce resistance against viral infections like adenovirus in mice. This antiviral effect, observed even in athymic mice, suggests a role for endotoxin in innate immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Pertussis vaccine and its components can confer resistance against various viral infections.
  • Previous studies showed pertussis vaccine protects mice against adenovirus, with resistance waning after 35 days.
  • This protection was observed in both normal and athymic (nude) mice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antiviral activity of acellular components from pertussis vaccine.
  • To determine if endotoxin plays a role in the resistance induced by pertussis vaccine.
  • To compare the resistance-inducing properties of lipopolysaccharides from different bacterial species.

Main Methods:

  • Mice were treated with pertussis vaccine or its acellular components.
  • Resistance was assessed against lethal doses of mouse adenovirus.
  • Acellular fractions were prepared using salt extraction and ammonium sulfate precipitation.
  • Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was removed using detergent treatment.
  • Endotoxin content was quantified.

Main Results:

  • Acellular pertussis vaccine components induced resistance to mouse adenovirus infection.
  • Resistance was maintained after detergent treatment to remove LPS, but endotoxin was still present.
  • The median effective dose (ED50) for resistance induction was approximately 25 micrograms.
  • Lipopolysaccharides from E. coli, V. cholerae, S. typhimurium, and S. Minnesota did not induce resistance, but B. pertussis LPS did.

Conclusions:

  • Endotoxin likely plays a significant role in the induction of antiviral resistance by pertussis vaccine components.
  • Acellular preparations of pertussis vaccine retain significant antiviral activity.
  • The findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms of innate immunity and vaccine-adjuvanted protection.

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