Bordetella pertussis antigens (Pertussis toxin, Filamentous hemagglutinin, Pertactin, and Fimbriae) (aP antigens)

Bordetella pertussis antigens, specifically pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), pertactin (PRN), and fimbriae (Fim2/3), are the essential components of acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines used to prevent whooping cough (CDC, 2020). Pertussis toxin is a complex A-B 5 exotoxin that ADP-ribosylates inhibitory G proteins, leading to increased cAMP levels and disrupted immune signaling (UniProt P04977). FHA and PRN are critical adhesins that facilitate the attachment of B. pertussis to the ciliated respiratory epithelium, a necessary step for colonization (UniProt P12255, P14283). Fimbriae are surface appendages that further assist in bacterial adherence and persistence within the host (PubMed, 2014). Vaccine-induced antibodies target these proteins to neutralize the toxin's systemic effects and block bacterial colonization, providing protective immunity. However, the rise of pertactin-deficient strains and the relatively rapid decay of antibody titers compared to whole-cell vaccines present ongoing challenges for long-term disease control (PubMed, 2019).

Other names

Acellular pertussis vaccine antigensBordetella pertussis virulence factorsPertussis antigens

Induction of vaccine-mediated active immunity where B-cells produce neutralizing antibodies (IgG) that bind to these antigens to prevent bacterial attachment to respiratory cilia and neutralize the systemic effects of pertussis toxin (CDC, 2020).