An acellular pertussis vaccine in healthy adults: safety and immunogenicity

Recent data indicate that Bordetella pertussis can be an important cause of illness in adolescents and adults. In a randomized observer- and subject-b linded study, adults (greater than or equal to 18 years of age) received an acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine containing genetically inactivated pertus sis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and pertactin (PRN), or a s aline placebo, and were monitored for safety and immunogenicity. IgG antibo dies to PT, FHA, and PRN were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and PT neutralization by a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell assay. Local reactions, more common in the aP group, were mild and transient, One month after immunization, geometric mean ELISA antibody concentrations for the aP and placebo groups, respectively, were: anti-PT, 463 and 7.6; anti- FHA, 417 and 18; and anti-PRN, 855 and 14. The anti-PT neutralization titer s for the aP and placebo groups were 1:3439 and 1:58 respectively. This aP vaccine is a safe and immunogenic candidate booster vaccine against pertuss is for adults. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.