New abstract on GW vaccine combination--thanks to Kirt Love

[Guest guest]

Hum Vaccin. 2005 Jul 1;1(4) [Epub ahead of print] Links

Investigation in a Model System of the Effects of Combinations of

Anthrax and Pertussis Vaccines Administered to Service Personnel in

the 1991 Gulf War.

Rijpkema SG, T, Rigsby P, Xing DK, Corbel MJ.

Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards

and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, UK.

The toxicity and immunogenicity of the anthrax and pertussis vaccine

combinations used in the 1991 Gulf War was assessed in NIH, A/J and

Balb/c mice. Inoculation of pertussis vaccines, vaccine combinations,

or aluminium salt caused illness, splenomegaly and significant weight

loss. Although some animals recovered eventually, a lethal form of

ascites developed in some NIH mice and body weights of A/J and Balb/c

mice remained below normal levels. Inoculation of anthrax vaccine

produced little effect. Exposure to diluted vaccine combinations

produced less serious side effects of shorter duration. Single

vaccinations induced specific IgG1 antibodies whereas a mixture of

IgG1 and IgG2a was produced after multiple injections. Antigen

stimulation of spleen cells from mice exposed to pertussis vaccines

induced high levels of NO and IL-6, whereas stimulated spleen cells

from mice exposed to anthrax vaccine produced only low levels of

IL-6. In mice, pertussis vaccines act as an adjuvant for anthrax

vaccine, but these vaccines are also the major cause of toxicity of

the vaccine combination. The relatively high vaccine dose used,

together with the low sensitivity of mice to anthrax toxin,

emphasises that caution should be exercised in applying these results

to human recipients of these vaccines.

PMID: 17012879 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Meryl Nass, MD

Mount Desert Island Hospital

Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

207 288-5081 ext. 220