The need to develop new antigens to improve the pertussis vaccine is “pressing”, as the bacteria continues to evolve into a superbug, Sydney researchers warn.

In the latest in a series of studies, University of NSW microbiologist Dr Laurence Luu (PhD) and colleagues say they have identified novel antigens as potential vaccine targets.

Their most recent study in Vaccine might also help explain the surprise resurgence of pertussis around the world, despite high vaccination rates, Dr Luu says.

“We found the whooping cough strains were evolving to improve their survival, regardless of whether a person was vaccinated or not, by producing more nutrient-binding and transport proteins, and fewer immunogenic proteins which are not targeted by the vaccine,” Dr Luu says.