NEWS ON ANTIGENES OF ACELLULAR PERTUSSIS VACCINE

Key words: Pertussis vaccine, Pertactine, Filamentous hemoagglutinine, Fimbriae antigens 2 and 3, Bordetella pertussis

Several components of Bordetella pertussis induce an immune response. Recent studies have shown that some structural antigens (such as pertactine, antigens of the fimbriae 2 and 3) and the Bordetella pertussis toxine, but not the filamentous hemoagglutinine (till now considered the main antigen), have a significant role in inducing the production of protective antibodies. This new evidence should inform the development of new vaccines against Bordetella pertussis.