2009

O-antigen from B. parapertussis may drastically improve whooping cough vaccine efficacy against B. parapertussis.

Recent work by workers in Eric Harvill's lab in the center suggest ways to improving the vaccine for whooping cough. Examining the antigens expressed by B. parapertussis, a relative of B. pertussis which is responsible for whooping cough, they find that the O-antigen could be a critical component of future vaccines for this disease.