Genotypic characterization by multi locus variable number of tandem repeats analysis international Bordetella pertussis vaccine strains

In 1930's first whole cell pertussis vaccines became available to the public heralding a dramatic success in overcoming the global burden of the disease. To date only a handful of B. pertussis strains have been used by international/local pertussis vaccine manufacturers. Inevitable well-documented genetic changes in the world population of this pathogen have prompted serious questions on suitability of traditional vaccine strains protect human against currently circulating wild isolates of Bordetella pertussis.
Analyzing the genetic diversity within the most frequently-used vaccine strains of B. pertussis in the world
A recently developed multi locus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) genotyping system along with a bioinforamtic piece of analysis was conducted on 11 strain/sub-strains of B137, B203 (10536), C393, Cs, E476, Tohama I, J445 (134), B202 and J446 (509) plus 2 sub-strains of 134 and 509 that are used at Razi institute for preparation of pertussis vaccine. In this study have used 6 individual loci of VNTR1, VNTR3a, VNTR3b, VNTR4, VNTR5 and VNTR6.
Findings: Six distinct genotypes were recognized among the examined strains by comparing our data with the Dutch MLVA databank. These were all new and not reported before in the database.
This observation reiterates on necessity for detection of predominant native strains to include in vaccine preparations suitable for different countries.