VACCINE

Future Microbiology • October 2015
Investigating pertussis toxin
and its impact on vaccination
Author information
Coutte L1, Locht C.
Center for Infection & Immunity of Lille
Institut Pasteur de Lille
1 rue du Prof. Calmette, F-59019
Lille Cedex, France
Abstract
Whooping cough, caused by Bordetella pertussis, remains
a major global health problem. Each year around
40 million of pertussis cases resulting in 200,000-
400,000 annual deaths occur worldwide. Pertussis toxin
is a major virulence factor of B. pertussis. Murine studies
have shown its importance in bacterial colonization
and in immunomodulation to evade innate or adaptive
immunity. The toxin is composed of an A protomer expressing
ADP-ribosyltransferase activity and a B oligomer,
responsible for toxin binding to target cells. The
toxin is also a major protective antigen in all currently
available vaccines. However, vaccine escape mutants
with altered toxin expression have recently been isolated
in countries with high vaccination coverage illustrating
the need for improved pertussis vaccines.
“[pertussis toxin] is also
a major protective antigen in all
currently available vaccines. However, vaccine escape
mutants with altered toxin expression have recently
been isolated in countries with high vaccination
coverage illustrating the need for improved
pertussis vaccines.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25689536