Antibody persistence 2 and 3 years after booster vaccination of adolescents with recombinant acellular pertussis monovalent aPgen or combined TdaPgen vaccines.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Recombinant pertussis vaccines inducing long-lasting immune responses could help to control the rise in pertussis. We here report on persisting antibody responses 2 and 3 years after booster vaccination with a new generation recombinant acellular pertussis vaccine.

METHODS:

Participants of a phase 2/3 randomised-controlled clinical trial with a monovalent pertussis vaccine containing genetically inactivated pertussis toxin (aPgen) or its tetanus and diphtheria toxoids combination (TdaPgen), or a chemically detoxified comparator vaccine (Tdapchem), (originally conducted between July and August 2015) were invited to participate in observational studies of persisting antibody responses 2 and 3 years after vaccination. Serum IgG against pertussis toxin (PT-IgG) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA-IgG) were assessed by ELISA, and PT-neutralising antibodies (PT-Nab) by Chinese Hamster Ovary cell assay.

FINDINGS:

Waning of antibodies stabilised in aPgen and TdaPgen vaccinees 2 and 3 years after vaccination. Three years post-vaccination PT-neutralising antibodies remained 4·6-fold (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2·6-8·1) and 3·7-fold (95% CI 2·2-6·1) higher, PT-IgG antibodies 3·0-fold (95% CI 2·2-4·1) and 2·5-fold (95% CI 1·9-3·3) higher, and FHA-IgG antibodies 1·8-fold (95% CI 1·3-2·5) and 1·6-fold (95% CI 1·2-2·1) higher than baseline in aPgen and TdaPgen recipients, respectively. In the Tdapchem group, PT-neutralising and PT-IgG and FHA-IgG antibodies were back at baseline levels 2 years post-vaccination. Three years post-vaccination seroconversion rates for PT-neutralising antibodies were 65·0% (95% CI 44·1-85·9) and 55·0% (95% CI 33·2-76·8) in aPgen and TdaPgen recipients, respectively.

INTERPRETATION:

Considering the persistence of elevated antibody responses 3 years post-booster vaccination, genetically detoxified monovalent aPgen and TdaPgen vaccines can be expected to induce longer-lasting protection than chemically inactivated Tdap vaccines.

FUNDING:

BioNet-Asia.

• Authors: Punnee Pitisuttithum, Jittima Dhitavat, Chukiat Sirivichayakul, Arom Pitisuthitham, Yupa Sabmee, Pailinrut Chinwangso, Chawanee Kerdsomboon, Librada Fortuna, Jane Spiegel, Mukesh Chauhan, Indrajeet Kumar Poredi, Anita H J van den Biggelaar, Wassana Wijagkanalan, Simonetta Viviani, Souad Mansouri, Hong Thai Pham
• Journal: EClinicalMedicine (EClinicalMedicine) Vol. 37 Pg. 100976 (Jul 2021) ISSN: 2589-5370 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34386749 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021 The Authors.