A new nasal vaccine may help reduce the spread of whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease that has been rising in the U.S.
Despite the effectiveness of current vaccines at preventing severe illness, they do not stop the Bordetella pertussis bacteria from lingering in the upper respiratory tract.
This allows even vaccinated individuals to spread the disease to others.
The new vaccine combines traditional pertussis antigens with an innovative ingredient called T-vant. T-vant boosts the immune response specifically in the respiratory tract, where the bacteria live and spread.
In a study published in npj Vaccines, researchers tested the vaccine on mice.
Those immunized with the nasal T-vant vaccine showed no trace of bacteria in their lungs or upper respiratory tract three weeks after infection. In contrast, mice given the traditional vaccine through an injection still carried the bacteria in their upper respiratory tract.
“By creating a vaccine that not only protects individuals but also prevents transmission, we hope to improve on existing vaccines and limit the spread of whooping cough,” said Lisa Morici, lead author of the study and professor at Tulane University School of Medicine.
T-vant is made from tiny particles called bacterial outer membrane vesicles, which naturally activate the immune system.
The vaccine’s adjuvant triggers a strong immune response in the mucosal areas of the respiratory tract, where the bacteria try to colonize. This response prevents the bacteria from taking hold and spreading.
Importantly, the study found no harmful effects on lung tissue after immunization, demonstrating the vaccine’s safety.
These findings are significant as whooping cough cases are rising.
According to the CDC, U.S. cases have increased fivefold compared to last year. Globally, the disease affects about 24 million people annually, especially infants and those with weakened immune systems.
James McLachlan, coauthor and associate professor at Tulane, emphasized the importance of vaccines that go beyond protecting individuals. “We need vaccines that can effectively stop the bacteria from spreading within communities, and this new approach is a promising step in that direction,” he said.
The development of T-vant was supported by the NIH Adjuvant Development Program. If successful in human trials, this vaccine could pave the way for eliminating whooping cough entirely, offering hope to millions worldwide.
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Source: KSR.
