New discovery may lead the way to improved whooping cough vaccine

Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have made novel discoveries concerning the current vaccine against whooping cough that may lead to the development of an improved future vaccine. The findings could help reduce the incidence of the disease which is increasing in developed countries. The research led by Professor of Experimental Immunology, Kingston Mills has just been published in the journal PLoS Pathogens. A new vaccine against whooping cough, caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis was first introduced to the routine vaccination schedule for infants and children in most developed countries, including Ireland over a decade ago. Prior to the introduction of this vaccine, children were immunised with a vaccine made from whole bacteria. Although this ‘whole cell pertussis vaccine’ was effective at preventing the infection, it had been associated with side effects. Dissatisfaction with that vaccine led to the development of an ‘acellular pertussis vaccine’ made from components of the bacteria...