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Determination of Maternal and Infant Immune Responses to Pertussis Vaccination in Pregnancy
1Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Insights
Maternal pertussis vaccination may impact infant innate immunity. This study introduces methods to assess cellular responses to Bordetella pertussis in mothers and infants, exploring vaccine effects beyond antibody levels.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Maternal and Child Health
Background:
- Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough, with recent outbreaks impacting infants.
- Maternal pertussis vaccination strategies aim to protect infants via antibody transfer.
- The impact of maternal vaccination on infant innate immunity remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of maternal pertussis vaccination on infant innate immune responses.
- To develop and describe methods for assessing cellular immunity to B. pertussis in mothers and infants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a B. pertussis stimulation assay.
- Employed multiplex cytokine assays to measure cellular responses.
- Analyzed responses in both mothers and their infants.
Main Results:
- Established methods to detect in vitro cellular immune responses to B. pertussis.
- Provided a framework for future studies on maternal vaccine impact on infant immunity.
Conclusions:
- The study lays the groundwork for understanding how maternal pertussis vaccination influences infant innate immunity.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate these complex interactions.
Abstract:
The Bordetella pertussis bacterium is the causative agent of whooping cough (pertussis disease). Following recent outbreaks of pertussis, disproportionately affecting young infants, several countries have introduced maternal pertussis vaccination strategies, aimed at boosting transplacental transfer of protective antibodies during pregnancy. Given historical associations between high maternal antibody and blunted infant responses to vaccination, subsequent research studies have investigated the impact of maternal pertussis vaccine on infant humoral responses. However, far less is known about the potential impact of the vaccine on innate immunity. Here, we describe methods to detect in vitro cellular responses to B. pertussis in mothers and their infants using a B. pertussis stimulation assay and multiplex cytokine assays to address this research question.
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