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Bangkok, Thailand — A recombinant pertussis booster vaccine has demonstrated long-lasting immunity in adolescents and young adults, maintaining pertussis toxin (PT)-neutralizing antibody levels 2.5 to 3 times higher than pre-vaccination levels even five years after administration, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.
Study Highlights
The research, led by Dr. Punnee Pitisuttithum from Mahidol University’s Vaccine Trial Centre, assessed the long-term efficacy of recombinant pertussis vaccines compared to chemically detoxified vaccines. Conducted in Thailand, the study followed 159 participants, with a mean age of 19.6 years, who had received booster vaccines between the ages of 12 and 17 during a phase 2/3 clinical trial.
Participants were divided into three groups based on the type of booster they received:
- Recombinant pertussis-only vaccine: 55 participants
- Recombinant tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine: 52 participants
- Chemically detoxified tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine: 52 participants
All participants had completed a primary series of three doses of a whole-cell pertussis vaccine during infancy.
Findings
After five years, recombinant pertussis vaccines showed superior antibody persistence compared to chemically detoxified vaccines:
- PT-neutralizing antibody levels in the recombinant vaccine groups remained significantly elevated.
- 75% of participants receiving the recombinant pertussis-only vaccine and 56% receiving the recombinant tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine maintained long-term seroprotection, compared to just 27% in the chemically detoxified group (P < .001).
These results highlight the efficacy of genetically detoxified PT-containing vaccines in providing long-lasting protection against pertussis.
Methodology
Blood samples were analyzed for PT immunoglobulin G (PT-IgG) and filamentous hemagglutinin IgG concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. A subset of 55 participants also underwent testing for PT-neutralizing antibody titers using Chinese hamster ovary cell assays.
The study found that neutralizing anti-PT antibody levels remained over four times greater than the seropositivity threshold of 5 IU/mL, further supporting the recombinant vaccine’s durability.
Implications for Public Health
These findings suggest that recombinant pertussis vaccines can offer enhanced and prolonged protection, making them ideal booster options for adolescents and adults. According to the authors, incorporating these vaccines into immunization programs could strengthen population-level immunity against pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory disease.
Funding and Disclosures
The study was funded by BioNet-Asia, with some authors reporting employment or grants linked to the funding organization.
For healthcare providers and policymakers, these results emphasize the potential of recombinant pertussis vaccines to improve long-term disease control strategies.
