Immunologic profiling of the infant immune response to whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines
08/2025
Journal Article
Authors:
Creech, C. B.;
Leguia, M.;
Goll, J. B.;
Howard, L. M.;
Vila-Sanjurjo, A.;
Yoder, S.;
Juarez, D.;
Garcia-Glaessner, A.;
Gelber, C. E.;
Jimenez-Truque, N.;
Cherikh, S.;
Gil, A. I.;
Crowe, J. E.;
Cotos, R. C.;
Edwards, K. M.;
Lanata, C. F.
Volume:
10
Issue:
1
Journal:
NPJ Vaccines
PMID:
40790123
URL:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40790123
DOI:
10.1038/s41541-025-01170-5
Keywords:
acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) pertussis whole-cell vaccine (DTP)
Abstract:
Despite robust antibody responses, immunity induced by acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) wanes over time and risk of pertussis seems to be lower in children who receive whole-cell vaccine (DTP) as their first dose. To interrogate the early immunologic response to pertussis vaccine, we enrolled 56 healthy infants who received either DTP or DTaP at 2-, 4-, 6-, and 18-months of age. RNA-sequencing and ribosome profiling of PBMC were performed prior to vaccination (Day 1) and on either Day 2 or Day 8. Pathway enrichment analysis on Days 2 and 8 showed enrichment of TLR-signaling and FcUpsilonR-mediated phagocytosis among DTP recipients. DTP also led to increases in IRAK-4 and IL-1ss. After booster vaccination, a higher frequency of PT-specific B-cells was observed in DTP- vs. DTaP recipients. These data provide insights into the early immunologic responses to pertussis vaccine and may guide next-generation pertussis vaccine development.