Efficacy of pertussis components in an acellular vaccine, as assessed in a murine model of respiratory infection and a murine intracerebral challenge model.

The efficacy of 10 pertussis vaccines prepared from various concentrations of pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) was investigated in a murine model of respiratory infection (aerosol challenge model) and a murine intracerebral (ic) challenge model. PT was necessary as a vaccine component for protection against an ic challenge with Bordetella pertussis. FHA appeared to play an important role as a vaccine component in protection against an aerosol challenge with B. pertussis. Vaccines containing a small amount of FHA with a large amount of PT (FHA:PT=1:11 or 2:10, w/w) were strongly protective in both the aerosol challenge and the ic challenge models. Ratios of FHA:PT of 1:11 or 2:10 (w/w) might be suitable for future formulations.