Dissertation
Systems vaccinology: molecular signatures of immunity to Bordetella pertussis
Promotor: G.F.A. Kersten, W. Jiskoot, Co-promotor: B. Metz
- Author
- R.H.M. Raeven
- Date
- 22 September 2016
- Links
- Thesis in Leiden Repository
The worldwide resurgence of whooping cough (pertussis), even in highly vaccinated populations, demands improved pertussis vaccines. In this thesis a systems vaccinology approach is applied to deepen knowledge of the immune responses evoked by different pertussis vaccines and compare this with a Bordetella pertussis infection since the latter induces robust protection. Infection-induced responses in mice conferred sterilizing protection that is caused by systemic immunity but more importantly by mucosal IgA, T-helper (Th)1/Th17 responses, and ‘trained’ innate immune cells in the lungs. An experimental outer membrane vesicle vaccine (omvPV) was compared with the two licensed vaccines, acellular vaccine (aPV), whole-cell vaccine (wPV) as well as a B. pertussis infection. OmvPV evoked a different immunoproteomic profile with respect to antibody levels, antigen specificity, and subclass distribution. Furthermore, omvPV confers equal protection in mice as wPV, but with a lower inflammatory response. In this thesis it is also shown that the immunization route is critical. Although subcutaneous omvPV immunization is effective, pulmonary administration lead to superior protection, comparable to infection-induced immunity and included hallmarks of protection such as pulmonary Th17 cells and mucosal IgA. The molecular and cellular signatures described in this thesis may have an important contribution to enhanced pertussis immunity.