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Transplacental and transcolostral immunity to pertussis in a mouse model using acellular pertussis vaccine
Insights
Maternal immunization with acellular or whole cell pertussis vaccines protects infant mice from Bordetella pertussis infection. Protection is transferred via milk and placenta, with mammary transfer being most effective.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, remains a significant public health concern.
- Whole cell pertussis vaccines have been associated with adverse effects, leading to the development of acellular pertussis vaccines.
- Understanding the mechanisms of protective immunity transfer from mother to offspring is crucial for vaccine strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the protective efficacy of acellular pertussis vaccine versus whole cell pertussis vaccine in a murine model.
- To investigate the transfer of maternal immunity to offspring against Bordetella pertussis infection.
- To determine the routes of protective antibody transfer (placental and milk).
Main Methods:
- Suckling mice (6-10 days old) from mothers immunized with acellular or whole cell pertussis vaccines were used.
- Offspring were challenged via aerosol with Bordetella pertussis strain 18323.
- Mice were monitored for body weight, mortality, leukocytosis, and lung bacterial counts.
Main Results:
- Both acellular and whole cell pertussis vaccines conferred comparable protection against intracerebral and aerosol challenge.
- Maternal immunization effectively transferred protective immunity to offspring through both milk and placenta.
- Transfer of protection was significantly greater via mammary glands (milk) compared to the yolk sac (placenta).
Conclusions:
- Acellular pertussis vaccine offers protective activity comparable to whole cell vaccine.
- Maternal immunization is a viable strategy to protect infants from pertussis, with passive immunity transfer occurring through milk and placenta.
- Mammary transfer plays a dominant role in conferring protection to offspring.
Abstract:
The protective activity of acellular pertussis vaccine was comparable to that of whole cell vaccine against intracerebral and aerosol infection with Bordetella pertussis in mice. Suckling mice, six to 10 days old, born of mothers immunized with acellular or whole cell pertussis vaccine were challenged with an aerosol of B pertussis strain 18323, and body weight, death, leukocytosis, and viable counts in the lungs were monitored. Protective activity was transferred from mother mice to their offspring through milk and placenta (yolk sac), with substantially greater protection being transferred through the mammary gland.