Emerging Microbes & Infections | Notable Maternal Immune Response Study

This study systematically analyzed the differences in humoral and cellular immune responses to Tdap booster vaccination during pregnancy in women who received whole-cell or acellular pertussis vaccines in childhood. Results demonstrated that women initially vaccinated with whole-cell vaccines generated higher antibody levels and stronger immune responses during pregnancy, providing critical evidence for future maternal vaccine strategies.

 

Literature Overview
The article 'Evaluation of immune responses to Tdap booster during pregnancy in women who received whole cell or acellular pertussis vaccines during childhood' published in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections systematically reviews humoral and cellular immune response dynamics following Tdap booster immunization in pregnant women with different childhood vaccine priming backgrounds, offering novel insights into maternal vaccine protective mechanisms.

Background Knowledge
Pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis, poses significant risks to infants. Since 2012, Tdap vaccination (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) between 27-36 weeks of gestation has been recommended to protect newborns through placental antibody transfer. However, it remains unclear whether immune memory established through childhood whole-cell (wPV) or acellular (aPV) pertussis vaccines maintains differential functionality after maternal boosting. While wPV primarily induces TH1/TH17 cellular responses and aPV predominantly generates TH2 responses, understanding these distinct immunological patterns post-boosting is crucial for optimizing vaccine efficacy. Though Cyagen Biosciences services were not directly involved in this study, their animal models, vaccine platform development, and antibody detection capabilities could support related research directions.

 

 

Research Methods and Experiments
The study enrolled 157 women of childbearing age between September 2020 and August 2022, including 86 pregnant women (63 wPV-primed, 23 aPV-primed) and 71 non-pregnant controls (48 wPV, 23 aPV). All participants received Tdap boosters during late pregnancy or non-pregnancy periods, with blood samples collected pre- and post-vaccination to measure antibody titers, avidity, opsonization activity, and activation markers (OX40, PD-L1, CD25) in memory B cells and T cells, along with cytokine (IFNγ, IL-4, IL-17) profiles.

Key Conclusions and Perspectives

• WPV-primed pregnant women exhibited significantly higher antibody titers and antigen avidity post-Tdap boosting compared to aPV recipients, indicating stronger humoral immunity.
• While aPV-primed pregnant women developed antibodies, their lower avidity and functional capacity (e.g., opsonization) suggests reduced protective efficacy.
• Both groups demonstrated activated memory B cells, showing effective pertussis-specific B cell memory recall through Tdap boosting.
• Early CD4+ T cell activation markers (OX40, PD-L1, CD25) increased in both groups, but cytokine secretion patterns retained original vaccine-induced polarization: IFNγ/IL-17 dominance in wPV vs. IL-4 predominance in aPV, demonstrating pregnancy boosting doesn't alter established T cell polarization.
• Non-pregnant women showed higher antibody levels and opsonic activity post-Tdap, suggesting pregnancy may suppress vaccine-induced immune activation.

Research Significance and Prospects
This research reveals that Tdap booster effectiveness during pregnancy correlates with childhood vaccine type, providing evidence for optimizing maternal immunization strategies. As acellular vaccines become dominant in the childbearing population, future large-scale studies are needed to characterize long-term immune profiles.

 

 

Conclusion
This study systematically evaluated maternal immune responses to Tdap boosting following different childhood pertussis vaccines. Whole-cell vaccine (wPV) recipients demonstrated higher antibody titers and avidity with sustained TH1/TH17 polarization, while acellular vaccine (aPV) priming maintained TH2-dominant responses. Non-pregnant women consistently showed stronger immune activation, highlighting pregnancy's potential immunomodulatory effects. These findings support preferential Tdap boosting in wPV-primed pregnant women and provide critical reference for future vaccine strategies and protective efficacy assessments.

 

Jesse M Hall, Kyle J Caution, Kia J A Holt, Brett Worly, and Purnima Dubey. Evaluation of immune responses to Tdap booster during pregnancy in women who received whole cell or acellular pertussis vaccines during childhood. Emerging Microbes & Infections.