Protective effects of human gamma-globulin preparations against experimental aerosol infections of mice with Bordetella pertussis.

The protective effects of three types of pooled human gamma-globulin preparations (intact: GG, S-sulfonated: GGS, and pepsin-treated: GGP) for intravenous use against experimental aerosol infection of mice with Bordetella pertussis have been evaluated. The gamma-globulin preparations GG and GGS showed significant protective activity whereas GGP did not, as evaluated by survival numbers, body weight gains and suppression of leucocytosis. GG and GGS but not GGP also possessed neutralizing activity against leucocytosis-promoting and histamine-sensitizing activities of pertussis toxin (PT). Evaluation of protective activities of GG, GGS and GGP prepared from rabbit gamma-globulin, highly immunized with PT and not containing any anti-F-HA (filamentous or agglutinin antibodies, demonstrated that anti-PT-GG and anti-PT-GGS but not anti-PT-GGP protected against experimental infection by B. pertussis. These studies showed that the protective activity was correlated with anti-PT titre but that the Fc portion of the gamma-globulin molecule is necessary for actual protection against whooping cough by B. pertussis.