Human cellular immune responses to Bordetella pertussis infection

Abstract We have compared the responses of peripheral blood leucocytes from three groups (i) patients suffering from pertussis (whooping cough), (ii) clinical staff caring for those patients and laboratory staff working with Bordetella pertussis , and (iii) staff with no known recent contact with B. pertussis . In vitro stimulation with filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) caused significant increases in proliferation of only the patient group's lymphocytes. In vitro stimulation with pertussis toxin (PT) caused a large increase in proliferation of lymphocytes from all three groups and in the patient group the increase in proliferation was related to the dose of PT. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) production by leucocytes from all three groups was significantly increased following challenge with FHA or PT. The increases in IL-2 production were greatest in lymphocytes from patients with pertussis. Challenge with toxoided pertussis toxin had no effect on either proliferation or IL-2 production in any of the groups.     

The cell mediated and humoral immune response to vaccination with acellular and whole cell pertussis vaccine in adult humans.

The cell mediated immune response (CMI) against pertussis antigens following vaccination with the traditional Danish whole cell pertussis vaccine (WC-P) and the Japanese acellular pertussis vaccine (A-PV) JNIH-3 was studied in four adult human volunteers. Vaccination with the A-PV induced an in vitro proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to pertussis toxin (PT) subunits S2-S4, S3-S4 and S5 and the filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), and a better serological response to native PT, detoxified PT (dPT) and FHA than the WC-PV. The induced CMI and serological response were followed over a period of 17 weeks, and were not seen to decline during this period. Further, an in vitro proliferative response to Bordetella pertussis agglutinogen 2 and 3 were demonstrated using lymphocytes from recently and not-so-recently pertussis-vaccinated adults.     

The effects of purified pertussis components and lipopolysaccharide on the results of the mouse weight gain test

The effects of highly purified components of Bordetella pertussis, that is pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA), and of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were studied in the active mouse weight gain test (MWGT). The PT when given alone or with other components in various combinations caused weight losses and deaths 2-3 days after inoculation but FHA was not toxic in the MWGT. When FHA was given with PT, the toxic effect of PT was reduced. The LPS caused weight losses at 24 h which decreased when LPS was given with PT. The toxic effects of PT as indicated by late deaths and late weight losses or failure to gain weight continued until 14 days after inoculation. The various components had similar effects on mouse weight gain in both LACA and NIH strains of mice. The doses of PT used in the MWGT caused marked leucocytosis but FHA and LPS did not. No agglutinins appeared in the sera of mice inoculated with various purified components. The components were thus pure and did not contain agglutinogens.     

Humoral reaction to Bordetella pertussis antigens: pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharide in children with clinical symptoms of whooping cough. II. Occurence and level of B. pertussis antigens in children with suspected whooping cough

The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate IgG, IgM and IgA levels to pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and endotoxin (LPS) of B. pertussis in children with clinical symptoms of whooping cough. The serum samples obtained from 265 children (age range: 2 months-16 years) suspected of pertussis were examined by indirect haemagglutination (IH) and ELISA tests. Higher antibody level was most frequently observed in IgA class to PT, FHA and LPS in 45.3%, 35.1% and 66% of pertussis patients sera respectively. The least positive results were obtained in IgM class to PT and FHA (in 9.8% and 2.6% of children sera respectively) but in the case of LPS applied as the antigen in ELISA, higher IgM level was determined in 46.8% of pertussis patients sera. The four times increase of antibody level to LPS determined by IH was observed in 86.7% of children suspected of pertussis. Humoral response to B. pertussis infection is mainly connected with higher IgA level to PT, FHA, LPS and IgM to LPS in children with clinical symptoms of whooping cough.     

A sensitive chemiluminescence assay for pertussis toxin and for evaluation of cell-free pertussis toxoids

Pertussis toxin (PT) inhibited luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence induced in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils by N'-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP) at doses as low as 0.8 ng.ml-1, even in the presence of a 10-fold higher concentration of filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA). A cell-free extract of Bordetella pertussis, containing predominantly PT and FHA, suppressed the neutrophil response to fMLP. After toxoiding with carbodiimide, the inhibitory activity of the extract was abolished and an enhancement of neutrophil chemiluminescence was observed due to FHA activity. Abrogation of the chemiluminescent response of neutrophils to fMLP is proposed as a sensitive, in vitro assay for pT, and may be useful for monitoring the residual toxin activity in pertussis toxoids and for determining the anti-toxic effects of anti-PT antibodies.     

Hemagglutination activities of purified pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin against erythrocytes from various animals

The hemagglutinating (HA) activities of purified pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) were evaluated against unfixed and glutaraldehyde-fixed erythrocytes from ox, goose, horse, monkey, sheep, chicken, and rabbit. Both PT and FHA showed HA activities against fixed and unfixed erythrocytes from all the animals studied. The HA titers of FHA were higher than those of PT. The HA activities of FHA and PT were not destroyed completely even after heating these preparations at 56 C for 30 min. A simple test for the assay of PT in culture supernatants of Bordetella pertussis on the basis of HA activity has been described.     

Fusion expression and immunogenicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bordetella pertussis</Emphasis> PTS1-FHA protein: implications for the vaccine development

Mutants of pertussis toxin (PT) S1 subunit and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) type I immunodominant domain from Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) are considered to be effective candidate antigens for acellular pertussis vaccines; however, the substantial progress is hampered in part for the lack of a suitable in vitro expression system. In this paper, the gene sequences of a S1 mutant C180-R9K/E129G (mS1) and a truncated peptide named Fs from FHA type I immunodominant domain were linked together and constructed to pET22b expression vector as a fusion gene; after inducing with IPTG, it was highly expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) as inclusion body. The fusion protein FsmS1 was purified from cell lysates and refolded successfully. The result of Western blotting indicate that it was able to react with both anti-S1 and anti-FHA McAbs; antiserum produced from New Zealand white rabbits immunized with this protein was able to recognize both native PT and FHA antigens as determined by western blotting. These data have provided a novel feasible method to produce PT S1 subunit and FHA type I immunodominant domain in large scale in vitro, which is implicated for the development of multivalent subunit vaccines candidate against B. pertussis infection.     

Purification and immunogenicity of a recombinant Bordetella pertussis S1S3FHA fusion protein expressed by Streptococcus gordonii

Acellular pertussis vaccines typically consist of antigens isolated from Bordetella pertussis, and pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) are two prominent components. One of the disadvantages of a multiple-component vaccine is the cost associated with the production of the individual components. In this study, we constructed an in-frame fusion protein consisting of PT fragments (179 amino acids of PT subunit S1 and 180 amino acids of PT subunit S3) and a 456-amino-acid type I domain of FHA. The fusion protein was expressed by the commensal oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii. The fusion protein was secreted into the culture medium as an expected 155-kDa protein, which was recognized by a polyclonal anti-PT antibody, a monoclonal anti-S1 antibody, and a monoclonal anti-FHA antibody. The fusion protein was purified from the culture supernatant by affinity and gel permeation chromatography. The immunogenicity of the purified fusion protein was assessed in BALB/c mice by performing parenteral and mucosal immunization experiments. When given parenterally, the fusion protein elicited a very strong antibody titer against the FHA type I domain, a moderate titer against native FHA, and a weak titer against PT. When given mucosally, it elicited a systemic response and a mucosal response to FHA and PT. In Western blots, the immune sera recognized the S1, S3, and S2 subunits of PT. These data collectively indicate that fragments of the pertussis vaccine components can be expressed in a single fusion protein by S. gordonii and that the fusion protein is immunogenic. This multivalent fusion protein approach may be used in designing a new generation of acellular pertussis vaccines.     

In vitro induction of antigen specific antibody synthesis and proliferation of T lymphocytes with acellular pertussis vaccines, pertussis toxin and filamentous haemagglutinin in humans

The in vitro response of human B- and T-lymphocytes to the acellular vaccines JNIH-6 (containing pertussis toxoid and filamentous hemagglutinin), and JNIH-7 (containing pertussis toxoid), and to the purified components JNIH-4 (filamentous hemagglutinin) and JNIH-5 (pertussis toxin) was investigated. Pertussis toxoid and filamentous hemagglutinin induced specific Ig synthesis in vitro in lymphocytes obtained from convalescent pertussis patients as target cells. The antigen-dependent Ig production was demonstrated in lymphocyte culture supernatants by ELISA techniques and by a chinese hamster ovary cell toxin neutralization assay. Particularly with JNIH-4, -6 and -7, high antibody titers were obtained. At optimal antigen concentrations a marked lymphocyte blast transformation was found in lymphocyte cultures from whooping cough patients, but not in cultures of lymphocytes obtained from healthy volunteers. At high concentrations native pertussis toxin as well as the B oligomer (S2-5) of the toxin induced a strong proliferation of patient as well as control lymphocytes, indicating non-specific mitogenic activity. At lower concentrations lymphocyte blast transformation was seen in patient cultures only, which indicates an antigen-specific T-cell response. The A protomer (S1), dimer 1 (S2 + 4) and dimer 2 (S3 + 4) induced proliferation of patient lymphocytes, which demonstrates the presence of T-cell epitopes on these peptides. The in vitro B-cell response and the lymphocyte blast transformation assay are both useful tools for estimating the potency of acellular pertussis vaccines in man. Spontaneously acquired and vaccine induced immunity to Bordetella pertussis can be investigated at the level of B- and T-lymphocytes.     

Human dendritic cell maturation and cytokine secretion upon stimulation with Bordetella pertussis filamentous haemagglutinin

In addition to antibodies, Th1-type T cell responses are also important for long-lasting protection against pertussis. However, upon immunization with the current acellular vaccines, many children fail to induce Th1-type responses, potentially due to immunomodulatory effects of some vaccine antigens, such as filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA). We therefore analysed the ability of FHA to modulate immune functions of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC). FHA was purified from pertussis toxin (PTX)-deficient or from PTX- and adenylate cyclase-deficient Bordetella pertussis strains, and residual endotoxin was neutralized with polymyxin B. FHA from both strains induced phenotypic maturation of human MDDC and cytokine secretion (IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-23 and IL-6). To identify the FHA domains responsible for MDDC immunomodulation, MDDC were stimulated with FHA containing a Gly→Ala substitution at its RGD site (FHA-RAD) or with an 80-kDa N-terminal moiety of FHA (Fha44), containing its heparin-binding site. Whereas FHA-RAD induced maturation and cytokine production comparable to those of FHA, Fha44 did not induce IL-10 production, but maturated MDDC at least partially. Nevertheless, Fha44 induced the secretion of IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-23 and IL-6 by MDDC, albeit at lower levels than FHA. Thus, FHA can modulate MDDC responses in multiple ways, and IL-10 induction can be dissociated from the induction of other cytokines.     

A sensitive chemiluminescence assay for pertussis toxin and for evaluation of cell-free pertussis toxoids

Abstract Pertussis toxin (PT) inhibited luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence induced in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils by N'-formyl- l -methionyl- l -leucyl- l -phenylalanine (fMLP) at doses as low as 0.8 ng·ml⁻¹, even in the presence of a 10-fold higher concentration of filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA). A cell-free extract of Bordetella pertusis , containing predominantly PT and FHA, suppressed the neutrophil response to fMLP. After toxoiding with carbodiimide, the inhibitory activity of the extract was abolished and an enhancement of neutrophil chemiluminescence was observed due to FHA activity. Abrogation of the chemiluminescent response of neutrophils to fMLP is proposed as a sensitive, in vitro assay for PT, and may be useful for monitoring the residual toxin activity in pertussis toxoids and for determining the anti-toxic effects of anti-PT antibodies.     

Interaction of Bordetella pertussis virulence components with neutrophils: effect on chemiluminescence induced by a chemotactic peptide and by intact bacteria

The effect of secreted virulence components of Bordetella pertussis on chemiluminescence (CL) of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils was determined with the chemotactic peptide N'-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP) or intact B. pertussis as the stimulus. Pertussis toxin (PT) inhibited the response to fMLP in a dose-dependent manner, although only after the neutrophils had been exposed to the toxin for greater than 15 min. Both filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) markedly enhanced the CL response to fMLP after greater than or equal to 15 min incubation with the neutrophils. Similar effects to those of B. pertussis LPS were also seen with smooth and rough LPS from Salmonella minnesota. With the lowest dose of each component which elicited a maximal effect on CL, the inhibitory effect of PT overrode the enhancing effect of FHA and B. pertussis LPS. Pre-incubation of neutrophils with PT, FHA or B. pertussis LPS caused a slight reduction in the subsequent CL response to virulent B. pertussis Tohama. Virulent (phase I, or X-mode) organisms of B. pertussis 18334 and B. pertussis Tohama induced greater neutrophil CL than their avirulent (C-mode) derivatives. There appeared to be an inverse correlation between bacterial hydrophilicity and the ability to induce neutrophil CL: X-mode bacteria were significantly less hydrophilic than C-mode organisms. Three mutants, the adenylate cyclase (AC)- and haemolysin (HLY)-deficient B. pertussis BP348, the FHA-deficient B. pertussis BP353, and the PT-deficient B. pertussis BP357, generated similar levels of CL and had similar hydrophilicity values. The hydrophilicity value of the avirulent mutant B. pertussis BP347 (deficient in AC, HLY, FHA and PT) and the CL induced by this strain were similar to those of B. pertussis C-mode organisms. Thus, the interaction of B. pertussis with neutrophils appears to be complex, reflecting both the alteration of leucocyte function by secreted virulence components of the organism and, in the absence of opsonins, the surface properties of the bacterium.     

Purification and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Bordetella pertussis S1S3FHA Fusion Protein Expressed by Streptococcus gordonii

Acellular pertussis vaccines typically consist of antigens isolated from Bordetella pertussis, and pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) are two prominent components. One of the disadvantages of a multiple-component vaccine is the cost associated with the production of the individual components. In this study, we constructed an in-frame fusion protein consisting of PT fragments (179 amino acids of PT subunit S1 and 180 amino acids of PT subunit S3) and a 456-amino-acid type I domain of FHA. The fusion protein was expressed by the commensal oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii. The fusion protein was secreted into the culture medium as an expected 155-kDa protein, which was recognized by a polyclonal anti-PT antibody, a monoclonal anti-S1 antibody, and a monoclonal anti-FHA antibody. The fusion protein was purified from the culture supernatant by affinity and gel permeation chromatography. The immunogenicity of the purified fusion protein was assessed in BALB/c mice by performing parenteral and mucosal immunization experiments. When given parenterally, the fusion protein elicited a very strong antibody titer against the FHA type I domain, a moderate titer against native FHA, and a weak titer against PT. When given mucosally, it elicited a systemic response and a mucosal response to FHA and PT. In Western blots, the immune sera recognized the S1, S3, and S2 subunits of PT. These data collectively indicate that fragments of the pertussis vaccine components can be expressed in a single fusion protein by S. gordonii and that the fusion protein is immunogenic. This multivalent fusion protein approach may be used in designing a new generation of acellular pertussis vaccines.     

Evidence that a receptor-operated event on the neutrophil mediates neutrophil accumulation in vivo. Pretreatment of 111In-neutrophils with pertussis toxin in vitro inhibits their accumulation in vivo

The role of neutrophil chemoattractant receptors in neutrophil stimulation in vitro is well established, however, the precise mechanisms underlying local neutrophil accumulation at inflammatory sites in vivo have not been defined. A fundamental question that remains open is whether chemoattractants act on the endothelial cell or the neutrophil to initiate the process of neutrophil migration in vivo. To address this question we have investigated whether neutrophil accumulation in vivo can occur if chemoattractant receptor occupancy is uncoupled from neutrophil stimulation. For this purpose we have used pertussis toxin (PT) as the pharmacologic tool. We have investigated the effect of in vitro pretreatment of rabbit neutrophils with PT on their responses in vitro and on their accumulation in vivo. Pretreatment of rabbit neutrophils with PT inhibited FMLP- and C5a-, but not PMA- induced increases in CD18 expression, neutrophil adherence, and degranulation in vitro. This pretreatment procedure with PT inhibited the accumulation of radiolabeled neutrophils in vivo in response to intradermally injected FMLP, C5a, C5a des Arg, leukotriene B4, IL-8, and zymosan in rabbit skin. Further, in contrast to the in vitro results, PT inhibited the PMA-induced 111In-neutrophil accumulation in vivo. Interestingly, pretreatment of neutrophils with PT also inhibited accumulation in response to intradermally injected IL-1, despite the reports that IL-1 lacks neutrophil chemoattractant activity in vitro. Although the experimental techniques used cannot distinguish the different stages of neutrophil migration involved, these results suggest that the accumulation of neutrophils induced by local extravascular chemoattractants in vivo depends on a pertussis toxin-sensitive receptor operated event on the neutrophil itself. Further, PMA and IL-1 may release secondary chemoattractants in vivo.     

The effects of purified components of Bordetella pertussis in the weight gain test for the toxicity testing of pertussis vaccines

The effects of highly purified preparations of three Bordetella pertussis components--pertussis toxin (PT), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA)--were examined in the mouse weight gain test, a toxicity test for pertussis vaccine. When these components were administered alone, PT enhanced initial weight gains of the mice, LPS produced an initial weight loss and FHA had no detectable effect on the weights of the mice. However, testing the components in combinations revealed that the effect of PT and LPS together was not simply the sum of their individual effects. This combination generally produced lower weights than LPS alone, particularly in the later stages of the test.     

Acellular and whole cell pertussis vaccines protect against the lethal effects of intracerebral challenge by two different T-cell dependent humoral routes

Athymic (nu/nu) and euthymic (+/nu) BALB/c mice were immunized with a whole cell pertussis vaccine or with an acellular vaccine which contained detoxified pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA). Only the euthymic mice were protected against intracerebral challenge with virulent Bordetella pertussis which implies involvement of T-cells. As a cell transfer from mice immunized with whole cell or acellular vaccine prior to the challenge did not protect naive euthymic recipients, cellular immunity seems to be non-protective as an effector mechanism. Mice could be protected passively against a challenge by administration of immune sera. Therefore, T-cell dependent humoral immune responses to B. pertussis appear to be crucial for protection. The humoral response was further studied with athymic and euthymic mice. In euthymic mice the whole cell vaccine induced antibodies to FHA, pililipopolysaccharides (LPS) and an outer membrane protein (OMP) preparation, whereas the acellular vaccine induced antibodies to PT, FHA and OMP. Both IgM and IgG could be detected. From the nude mice only those immunized with the whole cell vaccine showed an antibody response which consisted of low titres of IgM directed to LPS. Sera from both +/nu and nu/nu mice immunized with the whole cell vaccine were bactericidal in vitro. These data demonstrate that in the mouse model protection to intracerebral challenge with B. pertussis is T-cell dependent as is the humoral response to PT, FHA, OMP and pili. The T-independent B-cell activation by the whole cell preparation is due to the presence of LPS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

溶液环境对百日咳疫苗分离纯化的影响

针对百日咳疫苗在低盐条件下不稳定, 容易聚集而导致层析过程收率低、分离度低的难题, 实验中选择脲作为稳定剂来改善百日咳疫苗所处的溶液环境, 并采用离子交换层析和凝胶过滤层析进行百日咳疫苗的分离纯化, 通过ELISA抗原活性测定和还原性SDS-PAGE等方法研究了脲对百日咳疫苗分离纯化的影响。结果表明, 在流动相中加入 2 mol/L脲作为稳定剂, 能显著提高离子交换层析和凝胶过滤层析中的PT和FHA活性回收率、凝胶过滤层析的分离度、PT和FHA的纯度。这些结果对百日咳疫苗的分离纯化和层析工艺优化提供了重要的依据和参考。     

The purification and characterization of an acellular pertussis vaccine

An acellular pertussis vaccine manufactured by Biken was investigated for purity, potency and toxicity. The vaccine was composed of almost equal proportions of pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA). The purity of the vaccine was 97-99%. The protective effects of component vaccines containing various ratios of PT and FHA were tested and it was found that the ratio of 1:1 provided the most effective vaccine.     

In vitro and in vivo induction of nitric oxide by murine macrophages stimulated with Bordetella pertussis

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) exhibits potent antimicrobial activity in vitro. The function of NO in host defenses in vivo, however, is presently unclear. Experiments were undertaken to determine the production of NO in vitro from murine peritoneal and alveolar macrophages, and murine macrophage cell line (J774A.1) stimulated with Bordetella pertussis or pertussis toxin (PT). In addition, we determined circulating levels of NO in the sera and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids of mice infected intranasally with B. pertussis . The results of this study showed that in vitro murine peritoneal macrophages induce production of NO in response to B. pertussis and PT. In addition, murine macrophage cell line, J774A.1 also induces NO production after stimulation with B. pertussis . NO production was also detected in alveolar macrophages from mice infected intranasally with B. pertussis . Finally, a significant increment of circulating levels of NO was noted, in the sera but not in the BAL fluids, of mice infected intranasally with B. pertussis .     

Development of acellular pertussis vaccines.

In 1974, the authors reported the isolation and characterization of protective antigens of Bordetella pertussis in mice. With this information, an acellular pertussis vaccine was developed, composed mainly of pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA). Substances causing side effects, especially lipopoly sacahoride (LPS) or endotoxin that cause fever, were removed, and detoxification of the PT by formaldehyde with retention of potency was achieved. In 1981, an acellular pertussis vaccine called the "Adsorbed Purified Pertussis Vaccine" was approved in Japan, in place of the whole-cell pertussis vaccine. The acellular pertussis vaccine has been widely accepted as safer and more efficacious in Japan. Since 1981, intense surveillance has shown that there are only rare adverse reactions and that pertussis has virtually been eliminated in Japan. Evaluation of active immunization with highly purified and pharmacologically inert PT and FHA and passive immunization with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, provide quantitative data about the vaccine-induced immunity in mice. Finally, it was discovered that the PT toxoid in the vaccine is the major and essential protective antigen. The toxoid of PT should be sufficient for protection against pertussis.