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Antibodies to Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin in neonatal and maternal sera
J L Arciniega1, E L Hewlett, K M Edwards
1Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Insights
Antibodies to Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) are common in newborns, likely transferred from mothers. This suggests maternal immunity or cross-reactivity with other bacteria may explain their presence in infants.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- High prevalence of antibodies to Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) observed in infants.
- Understanding the source of these antibodies is crucial for infant immunity and pertussis prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of antibodies to Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) in neonatal sera.
- To determine the origin of these maternally derived antibodies.
Main Methods:
- Immunoblot analysis was used to examine cord-blood sera for antibodies to ACT, filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), and pertussis toxin (PT).
- Neonatal and maternal serum pairs were analyzed for IgG and IgM reactivity to ACT and Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin.
Main Results:
- Antibodies reactive with ACT were the most prevalent in neonatal sera.
- Similar IgG reactivity to ACT was found in neonatal-maternal pairs, while IgM reactivity was absent in neonates, indicating maternal transfer.
- All tested sera contained antibodies reactive with Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin, suggesting potential cross-reactivity.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests that antibodies to Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) in infants are primarily maternally derived.
- Maternal infection or vaccination against pertussis, or exposure to cross-reactive antigens like E. coli alpha-hemolysin, may contribute to these antibody levels.
Abstract:
To investigate the high prevalence among infants of antibodies to Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT), cord-blood sera were examined for antibodies to ACT, filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and pertussis toxin (PT) using immunoblot analysis. Antibodies reactive with ACT were the most prevalent in neonatal sera. Similar reactivity of IgG with ACT was found in each sample of a given neonatal-maternal pair, yet IgM reactive with ACT was virtually absent in neonatal sera, suggesting that antibodies to ACT are maternally derived. Antibodies to ACT might come from infection or childhood vaccination of the mothers since pertussis vaccines from all US manufacturers elicited antibodies to ACT in mice. Alternatively, these antibodies may have been elicited by a cross-reactive antigen such as Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin, since all of the neonatal and maternal sera contained antibodies reactive with alpha-hemolysin.