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Impact of whooping cough vaccination revealed

A comprehensive genomic analysis of Bordetella pertussis bacteria reveals the impact of vaccination on its spread and diversification. The study shows that vaccination has dramatically reduced rates of infection and loss of life from whooping cough, but strategies used to date have not completely eradicated strains of the bacteria.

Whole-cell vaccine was more effective than acellular vaccine during California pertussis outbreak

A new Kaiser Permanente study published in Pediatrics found that whole-cell pertussis vaccines were more effective at protecting against pertussis than acellular pertussis vaccines during a large recent outbreak in California. The study examined 138 individuals with confirmed pertussis and found that teenagers vaccinated with four dose...

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateMay 20, 2013

From herd immunity and complacency to group panic: How vaccine scares unfold

A new model based on game theory and social learning can predict the patterns of vaccine scares, explaining why vaccine uptake takes time to recover after a scare. The model highlights the interplay between disease dynamics and vaccination behavior, suggesting that herd immunity can lead to complacency among unvaccinated individuals.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateApr 5, 2012

Incidence and reproduction numbers of pertussis

Analyses of serological and social contact data reveal that childhood vaccination against pertussis has led to a shift in the disease's burden, with adolescents and adults becoming reservoirs for asymptomatic infection. The study suggests that life-long protection through a vaccine could potentially eliminate pertussis.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJun 22, 2010

Whooping cough immunity lasts longer than previously thought

A new study published in PLOS Pathogens found that whooping cough immunity typically lasts at least 30 years and perhaps as long as 70 years after natural infection. The research suggests that repeat infections contribute relatively little to transmission and may even boost immunity in individuals with waning protection.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateOct 29, 2009

Whooping cough persistence traced to key toxin

Research reveals that pertussis toxin is responsible for prolonging the infection period in immune and vaccinated hosts. The study found that antibodies produced by vaccines are effective only seven days after administration, allowing the bacteria to grow and spread before the body can mount an effective response.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateDec 19, 2005

JCI table of contents: December 2005

A study using mouse models found that B. pertussis toxin inhibits neutrophil recruitment, delaying antibody-mediated clearance and allowing repeated infection. Another study identified thrombospondin-1 as a novel mediator of ischemic damage in the kidney, which may be a target for drugs to reduce kidney failure risk.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 17, 2005

Whooping cough vaccine not just for kids anymore

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that an estimated one in 300 adolescents and adults contracts pertussis each year. The study's results demonstrated that a new pertussis vaccine is over 90% effective in preventing the illness, making it a strongly encouraged booster shot for adults.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 24, 2005