Immunization with autotransporter Vag8 prevents coughing induced by Bordetella pertussis infection in mice

Abstract

Bordetella pertussis causes pertussis, which is characterized by paroxysmal coughing. This disease is generally prevented through vaccination; however, the number of pertussis cases is increasing worldwide despite high vaccination coverage. We previously reported that an autotransporter of B. pertussis, virulence‐associated gene 8 (Vag8), causes coughing in combination with pertussis toxin and lipooligosaccharide. Here, we show that immunization with Vag8 protected mice from coughing after B. pertussis infection and enhanced the efficacy of a current pertussis vaccine containing pertussis toxoid against the cough. Our findings indicate that Vag8 could be a vaccine antigen to prevent pertussis cough.

DAT (deacylating autotransporter toxin) from Bordetella parapertussis demyristoylates Gα i GTPases and contributes to cough

“…These results prompted us to examine whether immunization with DAT prevents B. parapertussis –induced coughing. Mice immunized with the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus-inactivated polio vaccine (DPT-IPV), which is currently used as an acellular pertussis vaccine in Japan, exhibited reduced levels of cough production in response to the inoculation of B. pertussis , but not B. parapertussis , which is consistent with previous observations ( 31 – 33 ). Meanwhile, immunization with DAT, which was inactivated by formalin treatment, or DAT S571A protected mice from coughing after the inoculation of B. parapertussis , but not B. pertussis , regardless of the bacterial colonization levels ( Fig.…”