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

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. · npj Vaccines (2025) · DOI: 10.1038/s41541-025-01170-5

Resumen

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. © The Author(s) 2025.

Instituciones: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú