Vaccine for Bordatella infections

TechnologySummaryDespite an extensivevaccination regimen and continued high levels of vaccine coverage, theprevalence of pertussis infection has drastically increased throughout theindustrial world in recent years, leading to epidemics in the United States andother countries.  In fact, in 2015, the NationalInstitute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases added Bordetella pertussis to the list of priority Emerging InfectiousDiseases/Pathogens due to both increasing rates of whooping cough in adults andthe significant increase in infant deaths. The cause of this re-emergence is not well understood.  However, it is important to note thatlimiting disease in adolescents and adults will limit disease in infants forwhich the disease is more likely to be fatal.  Current whooping cough vaccines are on themarket, but they are generally regarded as effective but not long lasting.  Bordatella is also an important pathogen foranimals as it is the causative agent of kennel cough in dogs and can alsoinfect cats and other pets.  The current invention describes a vaccine withan engineered mutation in a factor implicated in infection that conferssterilizing immunity to pertussis infection in mice.

USA