Genetic detoxification of pertussis toxin

摘要

A new method is described for the preparation of a safe, immunogenic and efficacious vaccine for protection against the disease pertussis. In development of this vaccine, specific functional sites of pertussis toxin have been identified, and using this information, defined mutant holotoxins have been produced by site directed mutagenesis of the toxin gene. A number of these toxin analogues are detoxified, retain an immunodominant S1 epitope, are immunogenic and are protective in the standard pertussis vaccine potency test in mice.