Immunologic profiling of the infant immune response to whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines
Immunologic profiling of the infant immune response to whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines

Immunologic profiling of the infant immune response to whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines

NPJ Vaccines. 2025 Aug 11;10(1):189. doi: 10.1038/s41541-025-01170-5.

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 FcϒR-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.

PMID:40790123 | DOI:10.1038/s41541-025-01170-5