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Updated: Jul 9, 2025
Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
Published on: February 22, 2019
Genome-based prediction of cross-protective, HLA-DR-presented epitopes as putative vaccine antigens for multiple
Muktha S Natrajan1,2, Jesse M Hall3, Michael R Weigand1
1Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Insights
New Bordetella vaccine targets identified through genome analysis promise long-lasting protection against pertussis and related species. These novel antigens aim for improved safety and efficacy compared to current acellular pertussis vaccines (aPVs).
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, led to the development of whole-cell pertussis vaccines (wPVs) in the 1940s.
- Acellular pertussis vaccines (aPVs) were developed in the 1990s due to wPV reactogenicity, but rising pertussis incidence suggests waning immunity and limited transmission prevention.
- Current aPVs offer limited protection against other Bordetella species implicated in outbreaks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel vaccine antigens for multiple Bordetella species.
- To predict antigens that elicit long-term immune memory responses.
- To develop improved pertussis vaccines with enhanced safety and longevity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized genome-based approaches to identify potential Bordetella vaccine candidates.
- Bioinformatic analysis to predict cross-protective antigens.
- Assessment of predicted antigens for their potential to induce strong memory responses.
Main Results:
- Identified novel Bordetella vaccine candidates through genomic analysis.
- Predicted candidates demonstrate potential for cross-protection against multiple Bordetella species.
- Selected targets are predicted to induce robust and long-lasting immune memory.
Conclusions:
- Genome-based strategies can identify promising vaccine antigens for Bordetella.
- The identified targets offer potential for a next-generation pertussis vaccine with improved safety and durability.
- These candidates may provide broader protection against various Bordetella species, addressing limitations of current aPVs.
Importance:
Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, can cause debilitating respiratory symptoms, so whole-cell pertussis vaccines (wPVs) were introduced in the 1940s. However, reactogenicity of wPV necessitated the development of acellular pertussis vaccines (aPVs) that were introduced in the 1990s. Since then, until the COVID-19 pandemic began, reported pertussis incidence was increasing, suggesting that aPVs do not induce long-lasting immunity and may not effectively prevent transmission. Additionally, aPVs do not provide protection against other Bordetella species that are observed during outbreaks. The significance of this work is in determining potential new vaccine antigens for multiple Bordetella species that are predicted to elicit long-term immune responses. Genome-based approaches have aided the development of novel vaccines; here, these methods identified Bordetella vaccine candidates that may be cross-protective and predicted to induce strong memory responses. These targets can lead to an improved vaccine with a strong safety profile while also strengthening the longevity of the immune response.
