Overview
- Trinity College Dublin researchers led by Professor Kingston Mills and Dr Davoud Jazayeri reported the findings in Nature Microbiology.
- The candidate, called AIBP, uses antibiotic‑inactivated Bordetella pertussis delivered via the nose to target the respiratory mucosa.
- In mouse studies, the vaccine induced T cell–mediated mucosal immunity and fully protected both lungs and the nasal cavity, outperforming current acellular vaccines.
- The authors suggest the approach could serve as a plug‑and‑play platform for other respiratory pathogens, though this has not been tested in humans.
- The programme is backed by Irish and EU translational funding, and the candidate remains preclinical pending safety assessments and human trials, as UKHSA reports more than 500 pertussis cases in the first half of 2025.