RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 King, Audrey J. A1 Berbers, Guy A1 van Oirschot, Hans F. L. M. A1 Hoogerhout, Peter A1 Knipping, Karen A1 Mooi, Frits R.YR 2001 T1 Role of the polymorphic region 1 of the Bordetella pertussis protein pertactin in immunity JF Microbiology, VO 147 IS 11 SP 2885 OP 2895 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-147-11-2885 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2080, AB In several countries pertussis is re-emerging, despite a high vaccination coverage. It is suggested that antigenic divergence between Bordetella pertussis vaccine strains and circulating strains, in particular with respect to pertactin, has contributed to pertussis re-emergence. Polymorphism in pertactin is essentially limited to region 1, which is composed of repeats and is located adjacent to an Arg-Gly-Asp motif implicated in adherence. Evidence is provided for the immunological relevance of polymorphism in region 1. Region 1 was found to contain a B-cell epitope recognized in both humans and mice. Furthermore, variation in region 1 affected antibody binding and, in a mouse respiratory infection model, the efficacy of a whole-cell vaccine. Moreover, passive and active immunization indicated that region 1 confers protective immunity. An mAb directed against a linear conserved epitope conferred cross-immunity against isolates with distinct pertactin variants. The results indicate an important role of region 1 of pertactin in immunity., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-147-11-2885