Combination of diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, pertussis antigens, hepatitis B surface antigen, and Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide-protein conjugate (DTaP-HepB-Hib)

This "target" is a combination of purified and inactivated bacterial toxins (diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid), acellular components of Bordetella pertussis (pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, fimbriae), recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen, and the conjugate of Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (PRP) covalently linked to a protein carrier (such as tetanus toxoid or diphtheria toxoid)[1][2][4]. This mixture is used as a vaccine to provide active immunization in children against five major childhood diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease. These are not drug targets in the classical sense, but rather immunogens that stimulate protective immune responses[1][3][7].

Other names

DTaP-HepB-Hib vaccinePentavalent vaccineDTaP-IPV-HepB-Hib (some commercial formulations also include IPV: inactivated poliovirus vaccine)DAPTACEL, Infanrix, Pediarix, Pentacel, Vaxelis (commercial names for various combination vaccines with similar components)

Induction of adaptive immune response (by presenting antigens that stimulate protective antibody production and immunologic memory)\nProtein conjugation in Hib vaccine converts a typically T-cell-independent polysaccharide antigen into a T-cell-dependent form, enhancing efficacy in infants