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Published on: February 22, 2019
Bordetella pertussis Infection: From Immune Pathogenesis to Next-Generation Vaccines
Vasiliki E Georgakopoulou1, Vassiliki C Pitiriga2
1Department of Pathophysiology, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Vaccines
|May 26, 2026
Summary
Current pertussis vaccines protect against severe disease but not transmission. New strategies must induce mucosal immunity to block Bordetella pertussis spread effectively.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, is a contagious respiratory illness posing a global health threat.
- Widespread vaccination has reduced disease severity but has not eliminated transmission.
- Understanding immune pathogenesis and vaccine limitations is crucial for control.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze the immune pathogenesis of Bordetella pertussis infection.
- Identify immunological shortcomings of current acellular pertussis vaccines.
- Explore next-generation vaccine strategies for improved transmission blocking.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a narrative literature review.
- Focused on host-pathogen interactions, immune evasion, and vaccine-induced immunity.
- Examined preclinical and clinical data on emerging vaccine platforms.
Main Results:
- Acellular vaccines limit disease severity but not nasopharyngeal colonization or transmission.
- Insufficient mucosal immunity, T helper 1 (Th1), T helper 17 (Th17) responses, and airway tissue-resident memory T cells are key limitations.
- Natural infection elicits broader immunity, including secretory IgA and cellular responses, aiding bacterial clearance.
Conclusions:
- Effective pertussis control requires vaccines that mimic infection-induced mucosal immunity.
- Next-generation vaccines (mucosal, outer membrane vesicle-based, live-attenuated) show promise in reducing colonization.
- Redesigned immunization strategies are essential to halt pertussis transmission.
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