Immunologic profiling of the infant immune response to whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines

Despite robust antibody responses, immunity induced by acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) wanes over time and risk of pertussis seems to be lower in children who receive whole-cell vaccine (DTP) as their first dose. To interrogate the early immunologic response to pertussis vaccine, we enrolled 56 healthy infants who received either DTP or DTaP at 2-, 4-, 6-, and 18-months of age. RNA-sequencing and ribosome profiling of PBMC were performed prior to vaccination (Day 1) and on either Day 2 or Day 8. Pathway enrichment analysis on Days 2 and 8 showed enrichment of TLR-signaling and FcϒR-mediated phagocytosis among DTP recipients. DTP also led to increases in IRAK-4 and IL-1ß. After booster vaccination, a higher frequency of PT-specific B-cells was observed in DTP- vs. DTaP recipients. These data provide insights into the early immunologic responses to pertussis vaccine and may guide next-generation pertussis vaccine development.