'This book contains the proceedings of the International Symposium on Pertussis Vaccine Trials, held in Rome in October 1995. The meeting was organized following the almost simultaneous release of the results of five clinical trials and two other clinical studies of acellular pertussis vaccines. These large, multi-center studies, conducted independently and over several years, explored the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of several acellular pertussis vaccines, comparing them with whole-cell vaccine and/or placebo. In addition, the book covers other major topics concerning the use of acellular and whole-cell pertussis vaccines, including basic biological and epidemiological questions, various considerations in interpreting the studies' results, regulatory issues, and worldwide perspectives on the expanded use of acellular vaccines. Bringing together the world's leading experts in this field of research and summarizing all major aspects of pertussis prevention and control, this book is a vital reference for pediatricians, public health officials, microbiologists, immunologists, epidemiologists and all biomedical scientists who produce or regulate the use of vaccines.