title: Evaluation of transmission electron microscopy for examination of components of acellular pertussis and combination vaccines.
abstract: New acellular pertussis and combination vaccines vary in the concentration and presence or absence of specific components and in extent of adsorption to adjuvants. There is a pressing need to develop new control methods for acellular pertussis vaccines. Negative staining electron microscopy has been evaluated as a method for assessing the purity of individual vaccine components and the amount of adsorption to aluminium gels. Negative staining showed the characteristic morphology of vaccine components and permitted detection of contaminants and morphological changes. Reproducible results were obtained by use of a standardized negative staining technique and confidence in the technique was increased by comparison of previously unexamined specimens with a specimen that had been characterized by repeated observations. The degree of adsorption to aluminium adjuvants could only be assessed by observation of the amount of non-adsorbed material in the specimen. Negative staining electron microscopy can be used as one of a number of techniques for control of acellular pertussis combination vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Electron Microscopy and Photography Section and Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3QG, U.K.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hockley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Corbel
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000737:chemistry*; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D017778:Vaccines, Combined