The fim genes which code for the fimbria protective antigens present in both the inactivated whole-cell and acellular vaccines were analyzed in 86 Canadian Bordetella pertussis isolates. At least one of the novel mutations identified was found to involve a surface epitope that has been mapped by serum antibodies from infected or vaccinated subjects.

A Bordetella pertussis strain lacking 2 acellular vaccine immunogens, pertussis toxin and pertactin, was isolated from an unvaccinated infant in New York State in 2013. Comparison with a French strain that was pertussis toxin-deficient, pertactin wild-type showed that the strains carry the same 28-kb deletion in similar genomes.

In this issue of Pediatrics Acosta et al present a tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis, adsorbed (Tdap) vaccine effectiveness study in adolescents in Washington State during the first 6 months of 2012. Their findings support the previous Tdap effectiveness data from Wisconsin. The duration of Tdap effectiveness is disappointing, particularly because case-control s...

The incidence of whooping cough in the US has been rising slowly since the 1970s, but the pace of this has accelerated sharply since acellular pertussis vaccines replaced the earlier whole cell vaccines in the late 1990s. A similar trend occurred in many other countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Spain, following the switch to acellular vaccines. The key question is why....

BACKGROUND In 2006, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination of all caregivers of infants aged <1 year ("cocooning") to prevent pertussis-related complications and deaths. We implemented cocooning in a predominantly Hispanic, medically underserved, uninsured population at a Houston hospital. Phase 1 (January 2008-Ja...

We assessed the kinetics of the humoral immune response to pertussis antigens following vaccination of health care personnel with adult tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). By 2 weeks after vaccination, 88%-94% of subjects demonstrated a booster response. This brisk response of adults to Tdap supports a role for vaccination in pertussis outbreak control.

Despite the wealth of information on the pathogenesis, virulence and antigenicity of Bordetalla pertussis and the successful development of e#icacious acellular pertussis vaccines, the mechanism of vaccine induced protection against Bordetalla pertussis in man is still poorly understood. Using murine models, we and others have previously reported evidence of the involvement of T cells in protec...

Despite longstanding recommendations for routine vaccination against influenza; pneumococcal; tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap); and herpes zoster (HZ) among the United States general adult population, vaccine uptake remains low. Understanding factors that influence adult vaccination and coverage variability beyond the national level are important steps toward developing targeted ...