Adaptation of Bordetella Pertussis to Vaccination: A Cause for ItsReemergence?

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“Adaptation of Bordetella Pertussis to Vaccination: A Cause for Its Reemergence?”

Emerging Infectious Diseases Online (www.cdc.gov/ncid/eid)

(06/01) Vol. 17, No. 3,; Mooi, Frits R.; van Loo, Inge H.M.;

King, Audrey

Despite high vaccination coverage, pertussis has re-emerged in the Netherlands, and researchers suggest that one possible cause of this may be the adaptation of Bordetella pertussis to the vaccine.  This theory was tested by characterizing B. pertussis strains collected in the country between 1949 and 1996 using DNA fingerprinting and sequencing genes coding for surface proteins.  There were significant differences between the populations in the prevaccination era and after vaccination, in terms of the type and frequency of fingerprint types.  The researchers also noted that while there was little polymorphism in the majority of the proteins studied, pertussis toxin and pertactin—two virulence factors—were polymorphic and the antibodies against them were linked with protection against disease.  Researchers found fewer vaccine-type pertactin variants in vaccinated people compared to unvaccinated people, “which would be expected if the vaccine protects differentially against strains with distinct pertactin types,” the researchers said.  In conclusion, the researchers recommend continued strain observation, particularly as whole-cell vaccines are being replaced by acellular ones in some countries.

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