Immunization with the Recombinant Cholera Toxin B Fused to Fimbria 2 Protein Protects against Bordetella pertussis Infection

Figure 5

Specific IgG and IgA antibodies in BAL washes. Groups of animals were immunized intranasally or intraperitoneally three times with PBS, CTB, rFim2, or CTB-Fim2 every 12 days followed by intranasal challenge with B. pertussis Tohama phase I strain of (5×10⁷ CFU/mouse). At 8 days postinfection, animals were euthanized and BAL washes were collected to determine the levels of anti-Fim2 IgG (a) and IgA (b) antibodies. Antibody levels were assayed using ELISA. Values represent the OD at 492 nm and are representative of two separate experiments (^∗𝑃<0.05 versus CTB-Fim2 IP, ^∗∗𝑃<0.001 and 𝑃<0.0001 versus PBS, CTB, and rFim2 IN, ^∘𝑃<0.05 versus PBS and CTB, ⁺𝑃<0.05 versus PBS, CTB, and rFim2 IN and IP, and ⁺⁺𝑃<0.001 versus CTB-Fim2 IP).

(a)

(b)