Anti-FIM and Anti-FHA Antibodies Inhibit Bordetella pertussis Growth and Reduce Epithelial Cell Inflammation Through Bacterial Aggregation.

The pertussis vaccination is highly recommended for infants, children, and pregnant women. Despite a high coverage of vaccination, pertussis continues to be of public health concern as a re-emerging infectious disease. The mechanism by which vaccine-elicited anti-pertussis antibodies mediate direct bactericidal effects is poorly understood. In this study, we showed that the interaction of B. pertussis with A549 epithelial cells induce release of biological factors which enhance bacteria growth. Complement-depleted antisera from vaccine-immunized guinea pigs or monoclonal antibodies targeting FHA and FIM mediate bacteria aggregation and elicit bactericidal effects. Our in vitro results indicated that aggregation of bacteria through anti-FIM and anti-FHA specific antibodies is one of the major biological mechanisms to clear bacterial infections and restore epithelial cell survival in vitro. Our data also indicates that the anti-pertussis antibodies reduce secretion of proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines by preventing interaction of B. pertussis with host cells. The results of this study not only demonstrate mechanism of action of anti-FIM and anti-FHA antibodies, but also opens translational applications for potential therapeutic approaches or development of analytical assays such as in vitro potency assays.

Incubation of bovine thyroid slices with thyrotropin is associated with a decrease in the ability of pertussis toxin to adenosine diphosphate-ribosylate guanine nucleotide regulatory component(s).

Pretreatment of bovine thyroid slices with TSH resulted in desensitization of TSH-sensitive adenylyl cyclase activity but no change in stimulatory nucleotide binding regulatory component of adenylyl cyclase (Gs) activity assessed by reconstitution of the Gs-defective cyc-S49 adenylyl cyclase system. Possible changes in substrates for pertussis toxin (PT)-induced ADP ribosylation due to TSH treatment and/or in endogenous ADP ribosylation of membrane proteins were explored. Using 10 microM [32P]NAD+ as substrate, endogenous ADP ribosylation was not observed in membranes from control or TSH-treated slices. ADP ribosylation of alpha-subunits of Gs by cholera toxin was also unaffected by incubation of thyroid slices with TSH. In contrast, ADP ribosylation of 40 kilodalton (kDa) substrates for PT was decreased between 40% and 60% by TSH treatment. This effect of TSH was dependent on its concentration and the time of incubation of the slices and was specific for labeling of the 40 kDa PT substrate. Prostaglandin E1 treatment of thyroid slices, which results in a much smaller homologous desensitizing effect, did not result in changes in ADP ribosylation by PT. The effect of incubation of slices with TSH was abolished by pretreatment of the membranes with 0.3-1.0% Lubrol PX, which increased the labeling of the 40 kDa polypeptides. The data suggests that TSH induces in thyroid tissue a redistribution of 40 kDa polypeptides changing their availability to PT.

Differential regulation of receptor-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate production by polyvalent cations in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts.

Extracellular cations have paradoxical trophic and toxic effects on osteoblast function. In an effort to explain these divergent actions, we investigated in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts if polyvalent cations differentially modulate the agonist-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway, an important regulator of osteoblastic function. We found that a panel of cations, including gadolinium, aluminum, calcium, and neomycin, inhibited prostaglandin E1 (PGE)-stimulated cAMP accumulation but paradoxically potentiated parathyroid hormone (PTH)-stimulated cAMP production. In contrast, these cations had no effect on forskolin- or cholera toxin-induced increases in cAMP, suggesting actions proximal to adenylate cyclase and possible modulation of receptor interactions with G proteins. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetated (PMA) mimicked the effects of cations on PGE1- and PTH-stimulated cAMP accumulation in MC3T3-E1 cells, respectively, diminishing and augmenting the responses. Moreover, down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) by overnight treatment with PMA prevented gadolinium (Gd3+) from attenuating PGE1- and enhancing PTH-stimulated cAMP production, indicating involvement of PKC-dependent pathways. Cations, however, activated signal transduction pathways not coupled to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), since there was no corresponding increase in inositol phosphate formation or intracellular calcium concentrations. In addition, pertussis toxin treatment failed to prevent Gd(3+)-mediated suppression of PGE1-stimulated cAMP, suggesting actions independent of Gm. Thus, polyvalent cations may either stimulate or inhibit hormone-mediated cAMP accumulation in osteoblasts. These differential actions provide a potential explanation for the paradoxical trophic and toxic effects of cations on osteoblast function that occur in vivo under different hormonal conditions.

Reversal of pertussis toxin-induced thermal allodynia by muscarinic cholinergic agonists in mice.

The intrathecal administration of pertussis toxin (PTX) not only blocks the antinociceptive effects of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor agonist oxotremorine administered systemically, but also produces a long-lasting thermal allodynia in mice. The purpose of the present studies was to determine both the antinociceptive effects in normal mice and the antiallodynic effects in PTX-treated mice of systemically administered muscarinic cholinergic receptor agonists and cholinesterase inhibitors. In normal mice, antinociceptive effects were tested using a 55 degrees C water-bath tail-flick test. In mice treated 7 days previously with PTX (0.3 microg i.t.), antiallodynic effects were tested using a 45 degrees C water-bath tail-flick test. The nonselective high-efficacy muscarinic agonists oxotremorine, H-TZTP (3-(1,2, 5-thiadiazol-4-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyridine oxalate), and methylthio[2.2.1], (exo (+)3-(3-methylthio-1,2, 5-thiadiazol-4-yl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane oxalate), as well as vedaclidine, a mixed M(2)/M(4) muscarinic receptor partial agonist and M(1)/M(3)/M(5) muscarinic receptor antagonist, the nonselective partial agonists RS86 and pilocarpine, and the cholinesterase inhibitors physostigmine and tacrine all produced dose-related antinociception. Oxotremorine, H-TZTP and methylthio[2.2.1] produced dose-related reversals of PTX-induced thermal allodynia whereas vedaclidine produced a partial reversal and RS86 and pilocarpine, as well as physostigmine and tacrine, failed to reverse the allodynia. The present results provide further evidence that decrements in PTX-sensitive G(i/o)-protein functioning may be involved in initiating and/or maintaining some persistent or neuropathic pain states. Moreover, the present results suggest that muscarinic receptor agonists such as vedaclidine may be useful in the treatment of persistent pain states that are due at least in part to dysfunction of inhibitory second messenger systems.

Agonist occupation of serotonin1A receptors in the rat hippocampus prevents their inactivation by pertussis toxin.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the nature of the effect of pertussis toxin on the responsiveness of two potentially distinct subgroups of postsynaptic serotonin1A (5-HT1A) receptors of rat hippocampus CA3 pyramidal neurons: those located at the level of the cell body, which can be activated by microiontophoretically-applied 5-HT1A receptor agonists, and those located on dendrites, which can be activated by endogenous serotonin released by the stimulation of the ascending serotoninergic pathway. The former receptors (denoted as extrasynaptic) have been previously demonstrated to be sensitive to pertussis toxin, whereas the latter (denoted as intrasynaptic) have been shown to be pertussis toxin-insensitive. Rats treated with the 5-HT1A receptor agonists flesinoxan or BMY 42568 were used to determine whether tonic activation of extrasynaptic 5-HT1A receptors would prevent their inactivation by pertussis toxin. A pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine was used to determine whether a serotonin depletion would render the intrasynaptic 5-HT1A receptors sensitive to pertussis toxin. The responsiveness of CA3 pyramidal neurons to the suppressant effects of microiontophoretically-applied serotonin, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamin)-tetralin, baclofen and GABA or to endogenously-released serotonin, elicited by the stimulation of the ascending serotoninergic pathway, was studied one to 10 days after the intrahippocampal injection of pertussis toxin. When compared to control saline-treated rats, the treatments with flesinoxan (5 mg/kg/day, s.c.) and BMY 42568 (5 mg/kg/day, s.c.) delivered for 14 days by osmotic minipumps, starting three days prior to the injection of pertussis toxin, significantly attenuated the effect of pertussis toxin on the responsiveness of CA3 pyramidal neurons to microiontophoretic applications of serotonin and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin, as well as baclofen, an agonist of GABAB receptors, which share the same G proteins with 5-HT1A receptors. The two-day pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (350 mg/kg/day, i.p.) did not render the intrasynaptic 5-HT1A receptors sensitive to pertussis toxin, as indicated by the unchanged efficacy of the stimulation of the ascending serotonin pathway in the suppressing the firing activity of CA3 dorsal hippocampus pyramidal neurons. Our results suggest that the sustained activation of extrasynaptic 5-HT1A receptors prevents the pertussis toxin-induced ADP ribosylation of G protein alpha subunit, and thereby protects an amount of G proteins sufficient to maintain the function, not only of 5-HT1A, but also of GABAB receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Mepyramine but not cimetidine or clobenpropit blocks pertussis toxin-induced histamine sensitization in rats.

The effects of pertussis toxin (PT) and the role of histaminergic H(1), H(2) and H(3) receptor blockade on the actions of histamine on blood pressure, heart rate, blood gas values, and mortality were studied in anaesthetized rats. Four days after treatment with PT, histamine dose-dependently decreased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and PT enhanced the histamine-induced decrease in MAP. In the PT but not in the inactivated PT (IPT) or saline treated group three out of six animals died after the highest dose of histamine (300 mg kg(-1), i.v.) In order to determine the type of histamine receptor that mediates HS, 4 days after PT the selective antagonists mepyramine (H(1)), cimetidine (H(2)) and clobenpropit (H(3)) were administered 20 min before the challenge with histamine. Mepyramine completely inhibited both the enhanced histamine-induced decrease in MAP and mortality brought about by PT. Cimetidine and clobenpropit had no protective effects, but rather enhanced the histamine-induced mortality elicited by PT. The present study shows that PT caused HS in rats which is primarily mediated via H(1) and secondarily via H(2) and H(3) receptors. These results are considered to be a first step in the elucidation of the mechanism(s) of the HS test used in the quality control of acellular pertussis vaccine.

Effects of pertussis toxin and indomethacin on murine lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids.

The total number of lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids significantly increased in mice injected intravenously with pertussis toxin (PT), while the absolute number of alveolar macrophages markedly decreased. This finding probably reflects the lymphocyte accumulation in interstitial spaces as we previously observed in mice injected with PT. In addition, indomethacin, at lower dosage (0.5 mg/kg) prevented peripheral lymphocytosis and lymphocyte accumulation in the alveolar spaces of the lungs of mice injected with PT. These results provide evidence that PT is responsible for lymphocyte accumulation together with a marked decrease of alveolar macrophages in the lungs of treated mice; moreover, indomethacin is effective in preventing bronchoalveolar changes caused by PT.

Effect of anti-inflammatory agents on the haemorrhagic response of mouse skin to Bordetella pertussis heat-labile toxin.

Bordetella pertussis heat-labile toxin (HLT) was assayed by the haemorrhagic response produced by subcutaneous injection into weaned mice. Young mice, 3-5 weeks old of either sex, were highly responsive but they became resistant to HLT as they matured. Two anti-inflammatory agents, prednisolone and meclofenamate, inhibited the skin reactions in young mice. When given intraperitoneally, prednisolone was most inhibitory if it was injected just before, or at the same time as, HLT challenge. Prednisolone given 3 h after challenge, when the skin reactions had started to develop, did not significantly attenuate the final response. Both drugs were even more effective when mixed with the HLT challenge and injected subcutaneously. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible mechanism of action of HLT and to the reported beneficial effects of corticosteroids in the treatment of whooping cough.

Peptidergic modulation of G-protein coupled cyclic-AMP accumulation in the rat caudate nucleus.

Somatostatin, substance P, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide were incubated in an adenylate cyclase assay with a particulate fraction of caudate-putamen tissue of the rat in order to examine the effect of the neuropeptides on G-protein coupled adenylate cyclase in vitro. Somatostatin induced an enhancement of cyclic AMP formation in presence of guanine nucleotides and cholera toxin but inhibited pertussis toxin and forskolin enzyme stimulation. Pertussis toxin and cholera toxin also depressed forskolin-induced stimulation as described previously. Somatostatin was able to antagonize these inhibitory effects of both toxins. On the contrary, substance P reduced GTP and cholera toxin stimulated striatal adenylate cyclase, without affecting forskolin activation. In our preparation, VIP did not influence basal adenylate cyclase activity or the stimulation by guanine nucleotides, cholera toxin, and pertussis toxin. VIP potently inhibited the enhancement of cyclic AMP formation by forskolin and completely antagonized the inhibitory effect of cholera toxin on forskolin activation. These results suggest that neuromodulatory effects of somatostatin, substance P, and VIP are mediated by the inhibitory as well as stimulatory guanine nucleotide proteins G-i and G-s coupled to an adenylate cyclase system.

Pertussis toxin sensitivity of drug-induced potentials on the rat superior cervical ganglion.

We have investigated the action of pertussis toxin on a range of receptor-mediated responses of the rat superior cervical ganglion in vitro. The ganglia were treated with pertussis toxin for 24 h at 37 degrees C using an in vitro method. Appropriate controls were also carried out. Pertussis toxin (1 microgram/ml) reduced ganglionic hyperpolarisations mediated by adenosine, alpha 2, 5-HT1A, M2 and GABAB receptors. The GABAB-mediated hyperpolarisation of this preparation, evoked by baclofen and GABA in a bicuculline-resistant manner, has not previously been reported. Pertussis toxin did not reduce ganglionic depolarisations evoked by potassium chloride and 5-HT3, GABAA and nicotinic receptors. Depolarisations to muscarine and noradrenaline, probably mediated by M1 and beta-receptors, also appeared to be resistant to pertussis toxin. The similar sensitivity of the various ganglionic hyperpolarisations to pertussis toxin indicates that they may all be mediated by similar G-proteins.

Calcitonin reverts pertussis toxin blockade of the opioid analgesia in mice.

The aim of this paper is to study the influence of salmon calcitonin (SCT) on opioid analgesia when opioid transduction pathways are functionally uncoupled from Gi/o proteins by treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX). The antinociceptive effect of morphine and three selective opioid agonists, [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe2,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO) (OP(3-mu receptor agonist), [D-Pen2.5]-enkephalin (OP-1-delta receptor agonist) and trans-( +/- )-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-1(-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]-benzene-acetam ide methane sulfonate (U-50, 488H) (OP1-kappareceptor agonist) was evaluated, using the tail flick test, in mice treated with PTX or with PTX and SCT. PTX blocked the antinociceptive effect of the opioids, being the antinociception similar in control animals and in mice treated with PTX and SCT. Thus, SCT prevents the effect of the blockade of Gi/o-proteins. From this it could be suggested that calcitonin activates alternative antinociceptive mechanisms that are not dependent on Gi/o-proteins.

Cycloheximide abolishes pertussis toxin-induced increase in glutamate release from cerebellar granule neurones.

Release of glutamate from cerebellar granule neurones was stimulated either by adding 50 mM K+ to normal Krebs medium, or by adding 5 mM Ca2+ to neurones continuously depolarised with 50 mM K+ in the absence of Ca2+. Pre-incubation of neurones for 16 h with pertussis toxin (PTX) increased the stimulated glutamate release in both K(+)-stimulated and continuously depolarised neurones. Under both conditions, the PTX-induced increase in release was abolished by cycloheximide. In contrast, in the presence of cycloheximide, PTX still prevented the GABAB agonist (-)-baclofen from inhibiting glutamate release. These results suggest that G-protein ADP-ribosylation by PTX in cerebellar granule neurones may increase synthesis of a protein associated with the L-type calcium channel.

Neuropeptide Y inhibits pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation in bovine adrenal chromaffin cell membranes.

Evidence is presented that the neuropeptide Y receptor is directly coupled to an inhibitory G protein existing in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cell membranes. Pertussis toxin catalyzes the [32P]ADP-ribosylation of a 41 kDa plasma membrane protein. 5'-Guanylylimidodiphosphate inhibited the [32P]ADP labelling of this protein in a dose-dependent manner whereas GTP had no effect. Preincubation of the plasma membranes with high concentrations of neuropeptide Y followed by a brief exposure to a low concentration of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate significantly inhibited ADP-ribosylation beyond that observed with 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate alone. These results suggest that the neuropeptide Y receptor in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells is directly coupled to a 41 kDa PTX substrate (presumably the alpha subunit of an inhibitory G protein).

[Inactivation and toxoiding of biologically-active components of Bordetella pertussis by tea catechins].

An ability of tea catechins known as agents for the disinfection to bacteria and viruses were tested on application for toxoiding biologically active components of Bordetella pertussis. The effects on the activities and antigenicity of filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and pertussis toxin (PT) were investigated. The activities of FHA and PT were inactivated by catechins at approximately 10(3) times lower dose (0.2 mM) compared with that of formalin. The activity of inactivated FHA was recovered by dialysis against Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.0, containing glutathione or Tris-HCl buffer, pH 6.0. But the activity of inactivated PT was not recovered. Antigenicity of catechin-treated antigens were investigated by immunization to mice. The sera from mice immunized by catechin-treated FHA or PT were contained antibody against not only catechin-treated but also non-treated FHA or PT. These results suggest that antigenicity of FHA or PT was not destroyed by the treatment with catechin. We prepared pertussis-component vaccines by treatment of several catechins on the condition that FHA or PT activity was not recovered. Higher efficacy were found on the vaccines made by treatment of epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, or epigallocatechin than those by formalin. The vaccine prepared by using epigallocatechin gallate had significant efficacy as well as that by formalin treated one. From these results, it is suggested that tea leaf catechins were effective agents for toxoiding of vaccine components.

Sulfhydryl-alkylating reagents inactivate the NAD glycohydrolase activity of pertussis toxin.

The combination of ATP, CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulfonate), and DTT (dithiothreitol) is known to promote the expression of the NAD glycohydrolase activity of pertussis toxin, which resides in the toxin's S1 subunit. By monitoring changes in electrophoretic mobility, we have found that ATP and CHAPS act by promoting the reduction of the disulfide bond of the S1 subunit. In addition, ATP, CHAPS, and DTT allowed sulfhydryl-alkylating reagents to inactivate the NAD glycohydrolase activity. In the presence of iodo[14C]acetate, the combination of ATP, CHAPS, and DTT increased 14C incorporation into only the S1 subunit of the toxin, indicating that alkylation of this subunit was responsible for the loss of activity. If iodoacetate is used as the alkylating reagent, alkylation can be monitored by an acidic shift in the isoelectric point of the S1 peptide. Including NAD in alkylation reactions promoted the accumulation of a form of the S1 peptide with an isoelectric point intermediate between that of native S1 and that of S1 alkylated in the absence of NAD. This result suggests that NAD interacts with one of the two cysteines of the S1 subunit. In addition, we found the pH optimum for the NAD glycohydrolase activity of pertussis toxin is 8, which may reflect the participation of a cysteine in the catalytic mechanism of the toxin.

Construction and characterization of genetically inactivated pertussis toxin.

Pertussis toxin has been shown to be an important virulence factor and an antigen which will probably be essential to a pertussis vaccine. Inactivation of the pertussis toxin was required due to the pharmacological properties associated with this toxin. However, chemical inactivation has the potential of altering important epitopes or of failing to inactivate the toxin. Cloning and sequencing of the pertussis toxin operon has permitted the introduction of specific mutations in the S1 gene which have been shown to have a profound effect on the subsequent enzyme activity. Various mutations were constructed, re-assembled into the pertussis toxin operon and returned to the Bordetella pertussis chromosome for expression. Pertussis toxin, with lysine substituted for arginine at position 9 in the S1 subunit (PTA-K9) was assembled and expressed to wild type levels. Substitution of codons for aspartic acid, glycine and glutamine, for that of glutamic acid at position 129 were incorporated into the PTA-K9 construction. Virulence of these constructed B. pertussis strains and ADP-ribosylation by their toxoids were greatly reduced relative to that found with the wild type. Additionally, PTA-K9 was found to have reduced leukocytosis promotion and histamine sensitization activities. Finally, PTA-K9 was shown to be a protective immunogen in both intracerebral and aeorosol challenge assays.

Alkylation of cysteine 41, but not cysteine 200, decreases the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of the S1 subunit of pertussis toxin.

Sulfhydryl-alkylating reagents are known to inactivate the NAD glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyltransferase activities of the S1 subunit of pertussis toxin, a protein which contains two cysteines at positions 41 and 200. It has been proposed that NAD can retard alkylation of one of the two cysteines of this protein (Kaslow, H.R., and Lesikar, D.D. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 4397-4402). We now report that NAD retards the ability of these alkylating reagents to inactivate the S1 subunit. In order to determine which cysteine is protected by NAD, we used site-directed mutagenesis to construct analogs of the toxin with serines at positions 41 and/or 200. Sulfhydryl-alkylating reagents reduced the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of the analog with a single cysteine at position 41; NAD retarded this inactivation. In contrast, sulfhydryl-alkylating reagents did not inactivate analogs with serine at position 41. An analog with alanine at position 41 possessed substantial ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. We conclude that alkylation of cysteine 41, and not cysteine 200, inactivates the S1 subunit of pertussis toxin, but that the sulfhydryl group of cysteine 41 is not essential for the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of the toxin. These results suggest that the region near cysteine 41 contributes to features of the S1 subunit important for ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we found that changing aspartate 34 to asparagine, arginine 39 to lysine, and glutamine 42 to glutamate had little effect on ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. However, substituting an asparagine for the histidine at position 35 markedly decreased, but did not eliminate, ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. Chou-Fasman analysis predicted no significant modifications in secondary structure of the S1 peptide with the change of histidine 35 to asparagine. Thus, histidine 35 may interact with a substrate of the S1 subunit without being essential for catalysis.

An endogenous inhibitor of the ADP-ribosylation of GTP-binding proteins by pertussis toxin is present in bovine brain.

The ADP-ribosylation of GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) catalyzed by pertussis toxin was inhibited by endogenous inhibitor activity in the membrane extract of bovine brain. Most of the activity appeared in the fractions eluted from a DEAE-Sephacel column by 0.5 M NaCl. The activity was heat-stable and sensitive to pronase K. The results suggest the presence of an endogenous inhibitor of pertussis toxin in bovine brain.

Peptide inhibitors of ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin are substrates with affinities comparable to those of the trimeric GTP-binding proteins.

Pertussis toxin (PTX) ADP-ribosylates alpha subunits of GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) when they are in association with beta gamma dimers, and free alpha subunits are thought not to be substrates under standard assay conditions. We now report the rather unexpected discovery that synthetic peptides encompassing the last 10-20 amino acids of alpha subunits of PTX-sensitive G proteins are substrates for PTX by themselves and in the absence of beta gamma dimers. As determined for G13, the Km of PTX for the 20-amino acid carboxyl-terminal peptide is 10-fold higher than that for the trimeric G protein. Interestingly, PTX ADP-ribosylates the free full length alpha 13 subunit with a Km not different from that of the trimer but with a Vmax that is only 1% of that with which it ADP-ribosylates the trimer. It follows that the primary role of beta gamma dimers in ADP-ribosylation of G proteins is one of increasing the Vmax of the reaction without affecting the Km of the substrate for the toxin. Mutant peptides lacking the ADP-ribose acceptor site act as competitive inhibitors.

Immunogenicity and safety of a pertussis vaccine composed of pertussis toxin inactivated by hydrogen peroxide, in 18- to 23-month-old children.

A new pertussis vaccine, composed of purified pertussis toxin inactivated by hydrogen peroxide and adsorbed onto aluminum hydroxide (NICHD-Ptxd), was injected into 60 children aged 18 to 23 months without a history of pertussis or pertussis vaccination. Two doses of toxoid, 10 and 50 micrograms, were used. Two injections, given 8 to 12 weeks apart, elicited increases in serum levels of antitoxin and IgG antibodies in 56 children who had no detectable antitoxin (less than 5 units) before vaccination. Four children with detectable antitoxin (greater than or equal to 5 units) before the first vaccination had pronounced antibody increases after the first dose. After the second dose, the geometric mean antitoxin concentration was 29 units with the 50 micrograms dosage and 10 units with the 10 micrograms dosage (p less than 0.001). Serum antibody levels elicited by two injections of 50 micrograms were similar to those in patients convalescing from pertussis. A third injection given to seven children 9 to 10 months after the second injection gave a booster response, with high levels of antitoxin (160 to 1280 units) and of IgG antibodies. With few exceptions the antibody response was restricted to the IgG class. Transient local reactions greater than or equal to 2 cm in diameter occurred in 14% of the children after the first dose and in 44% after the second and third doses. Moderate fever was recorded after 6% of all injections. There were no changes in peripheral blood leukocyte counts or fasting blood glucose levels measured before and 24 hours after the first injection. We conclude that NICHD-Ptxd is immunogenic in children. No serious adverse effects were noted.