Trial of a new acellular pertussis vaccine in healthy adult volunteers.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a new acellular pertussis vaccine were tested in healthy adults. The vaccine contained three constituents of Bordetella pertussis; filamentous haemagglutinin, pertussis toxin (PT) and fimbriae bearing agglutinogens 2 and 3. The constituents were separately purified, treated with formaldehyde and combined with one of two aluminium adjuvants. Subjects received one dose of vaccine or an appropriate adjuvant-only preparation and were monitored for clinical responses for 7 days. Results with the two forms of vaccine were similar. Of 35 vaccinees, none had a temperature higher than 37 degrees C or a severe reaction, one had a moderate reaction (possibly due in part to intercurrent infection) and nine had mild reactions confined to localized discomfort and/or erythema or induration at the injection site. All vaccinees had good serum antibody responses to vaccine antigens measured by ELISA and for PT, by neutralization of its effects on Chinese hamster ovary cells.