Robust Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to Pertussis in Adults After a First Acellular Booster Vaccination.

ABSTRACT: Introduction:To reduce the pertussis disease burden, nowadays several countries recommend acellular pertussis (aP) booster vaccinations for adults. We aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of a first adult aP booster vaccination at childbearing age. Methods:In 2014, healthy adults aged 25-29?years (n?=?105), vaccinated during infancy with four doses of whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccine, received a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and aP) booster vaccination. Blood samples were collected longitudinally pre-booster, 2 and 4?weeks, and 1?year and 2?years post-booster. Tdap vaccine antigen-specific antibody levels and memory B- and T-cell responses were determined at all time points. Antibody persistence was calculated using a bi-exponential decay model. Results:Upon booster vaccination, the IgG levels specific to all Tdap vaccine antigens were significantly increased. After an initial rapid decline in the first year, PT-IgG antibody decay was limited (15%) in the second year post-booster. The duration of a median level of PT-IgG ?20?IU/mL was estimated to be approximately 9?years. Vaccine antigen-specific memory B- and T-cell numbers increased and remained at high levels although a significant decline was observed after 4?weeks post-booster. However, Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine production remained above pre-booster levels for 2?years. Conclusion:The Tdap booster vaccination in wP-primed Dutch adults induced robust long-term humoral and cellular immune responses to pertussis antigens. Furthermore, PT-IgG levels are predicted to remain above the presumed protective cut-off for at least 9?years which might deserves further attention in evaluating the current recommendation to revaccinate women during every new pregnancy.

SUBMITTER: van der Lee S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5893963 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature