Immunologic Profiling of the Infant Immune Response to Whole-Cell and Acellular Pertussis Vaccines

Abstract

[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