agglutinogen

The A and B antigens are inherited as Mendelian dominants, and individuals are divided into four major blood types on the basis of the presence of agglutinogens. Type A individuals have the A antigen, Type B have the B, Type AB have both, and Type O have neither.

Bordetella pertussis is an aerobic, gram-negative bacterium that causes symptoms by producing multiple antigenic and biologically active components, including pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, and agglutinogens. The bacteria adhere to the cilia in the respiratory tract and initiate an inflammatory cascade that paralyzes the cilia and inhibits the respiratory functions responsible for clearing secretions, largely through an immune-mediated response.

Bordetella pertussis has some important antigens such as pertussis toxin, adenylate cyclase, fimbriae, agglutinogens, Filamentous Hemagglutinin (FHA), pertactin and Outer Membrane Proteins (OMP).

Agglutination occurs when antibodies (also called agglutinins) cross-link with insoluble antigens (also called agglutinogens) to form visible clumps (Figure 2-12A).

However, the Dutch whole-cell vaccine induces low levels of antibodies against pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin and high levels of antibodies to agglutinogens and pertactin (6).