
Whooping cough is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny germ-laden droplets are sprayed into the air and breathed into the lungs of anyone who happens to be nearby.
How does Bordetella pertussis invade the respiratory system?
Bordetella pertussis. Though, recent research has shown that tissue invasion may occur. After B. pertussis has invaded the respiratory tract, the bacteria use several toxins to bind and destroy the epithelial cells. It begins by using hemoagglutinin, a protein, which aids the bacteria in binding to the cilia surface.
What is the pathophysiology of pertussis?
Pertussis, a respiratory illness commonly known as whooping cough, is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line part of the upper respiratory system.
How does pertussis spread from person to person?
Pertussis spreads from person to person. People with pertussis usually spread the disease to another person by coughing or sneezing or when spending a lot of time near one another where you share breathing space.
How does pertussis activate cAMP?
It begins by using hemoagglutinin, a protein, which aids the bacteria in binding to the cilia surface. Next, the pertussis toxin, an exotoxin, enters the cells and activates the production of cAMP.

How does the whooping cough move?
People with pertussis usually spread the disease to another person by coughing or sneezing or when spending a lot of time near one another where you share breathing space. Many babies who get pertussis are infected by older siblings, parents, or caregivers who might not even know they have the disease.
How does Bordetella pertussis infect its host?
Bordetella pertussis infects its host by colonizing lung epithelial cells. The bacterium contains a surface protein, filamentous haemagglutinin adhesin, which binds to the sulfatides found on the cilia of epithelial cells. Once anchored, the bacterium produces tracheal cytotoxin, which stops the cilia from beating.
How does Bordetella pertussis obtain energy?
Bordetella are tiny, gram-negative coccobacilli that grow aerobically on starch-blood agar or completely synthetic media with nicotinamide supplemented for growth, amino acids for energy, and charcoal or cyclodextrin resin to absorb fatty acids and other inhibitory substances. Bordetella do not ferment carbohydrates.
How does Bordetella pertussis work?
Once the bacteria, known as Bordetella pertussis, is inhaled from an infected person coughing or sneezing, it attaches to the tiny, hair-like structures (cilia) that line the upper respiratory system and releases poisons that damage them. This, in turn, causes the airways to swell, making it hard to breathe.
How does Bordetella pertussis survive?
No function for these genes has been described to date in the obligate human pathogen B. pertussis. However, since B. pertussis must survive in aerosolized respiratory droplets to colonize new hosts, it is possible that Bvg-mediated phenotypic modulation is important for B.
Does B. pertussis have flagella?
pertussis is a nonmotile organism” (21), we have demonstrated that B. pertussis can be motile and express flagella. Several lab-adapted strains and clinical isolates are motile, and B. pertussis motility is enhanced in the Bvg(−) phase.
How does Bordetella pertussis grow?
Bordetella pertussis usually grows after 3 to 4 days of incubation at 37° C. The small, transparent colonies are indistinguishable from those of B bronchiseptica, but usually are smaller than those of B parapertussis. All three species produce hemolysis.
Can pertussis survive outside the body?
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives for 3-5 days on inanimate dry surfaces 19. B. pertussis can also survive 5 days on clothes, 2 days on paper and 6 days on glass 20.
Where is Bordetella pertussis most likely to be found?
Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. It is a highly infectious bacterial disease involving the respiratory tract. It is caused by a bacterium (Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis ) that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person.
How does Bordetella pertussis invade epithelial cells in the lungs?
pertussis FHA may promote invasion of human respiratory epithelial cells through the interaction of its RGD sequence with host cell alpha5beta1 integrin.
Is pertussis airborne or droplet?
Pertussis is spread by respiratory droplets generated through coughing, sneezing and even talking. People with pertussis usually spread the disease while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the bacteria. An infected person is most contagious early in the course of illness.
How does Bordetella pertussis affect respiratory cilia?
Bordetella, Infection And Immunity Many of the antigens produced and secreted by B. pertussis have been demonstrated to suppress the normal responses of the host to pertussis in vitro and in vivo. TCT, by destruction of ciliated epithelial cells, impedes clearance of bacteria, mucus and debris from airways.
How does Bordetella pertussis grow?
Bordetella pertussis usually grows after 3 to 4 days of incubation at 37° C. The small, transparent colonies are indistinguishable from those of B bronchiseptica, but usually are smaller than those of B parapertussis. All three species produce hemolysis.
Is pertussis airborne or droplet?
Pertussis is spread by respiratory droplets generated through coughing, sneezing and even talking. People with pertussis usually spread the disease while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the bacteria. An infected person is most contagious early in the course of illness.
What type of infection is Bordetella pertussis?
Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. It is a highly infectious bacterial disease involving the respiratory tract. It is caused by a bacterium (Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis ) that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person.
How does Bordetella Bronchiseptica grow?
Bordetella can be spread by airborne droplets and is highly contagious. The bacterium does not invade the cells of the respiratory tract nor do they spread to deeper tissues, instead Bordetella colonizes and multiplies on the mucus membranes of the respiratory tract.
What is the cause of whooping cough?
Causes. Pertussis, a respiratory illness commonly known as whooping cough, is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line part of the upper respiratory system.
How long after a cough is a baby contagious?
Infected people are most contagious up to about 2 weeks after the cough begins. Antibiotics may shorten the amount of time someone is contagious.
Can you get pertussis if you are sick?
When pertussis circulates in the community, there is a chance that a fully vaccinated person, of any age, can catch this disease. If you have gotten the pertussis vaccine but still get sick, the infection is usually not as bad.
How many species of Bordetella are there?
There are currently eight species in the Bordetella genus. Three species in this genus are known to be pathogenic to humans. B. pertussis and B. parapertussis are very similar species. Both species cause pertussis (whooping cough) in humans and are separated merely by the toxins they release during infection.
How many people die from pertussis each year?
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. It affects an estimated 39 million people each year, and kills 297,000 people worldwide.
Is B. bronchiseptica a respiratory disease?
parapertussis releases toxins that seem to cause a milder form of pertussis (whooping cough). B. bronchiseptica causes respiratory disease in various mammals and occasionally in humans. The species is further separated from B. pertussis and B. parapertussis by being motile.
How to prevent Bordetella pertussis?
The most important and efficient method of prevention pertussis is by the administration of vaccines that are either whole-cell vaccines or acellular vaccines. The first whole-cell vaccines were discovered in the 1920s, and effective vaccination started in the late 1940s.
What is the difference between Bordetella and other genera?
The differentiation of Bordetella from other genera is the occurrence of Bordetella from warm-blooded animals, whereas other genera occur mostly in soil, water, and hospital environments.
What is the cause of paralysis in the host cell?
Toxins like tracheal cytotoxin, pertussis toxin, and adenylate cyclase toxin are released into the host cell which causes paralysis of the cell either by destructing the process of cytoskeleton formation.
What are the filamentous, cell surface-associated polymeric protrusions that extend from the bacterial cell surface?
Fimbriae are filamentous, cell surface-associated polymeric protrusions that extend from the bacterial cell surface and facilitate the colonization of the respiratory tract. B. pertussis produces serologically distinct fimbriae that are composed of two major subunits Fim2 and Fim3, respectively.
What is Bordetella genus?
The genus Bordetella consists of minute coccobacilli that are obligate pathogens of humans and animals characterized by the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Before the designation of the bacteria into a separate genus, the species were placed in the Haemophilus pertussis.
What is the binding domain of B. pertussis?
The binding of B. pertussis to the ciliated epithelium is mediated by the carbohydrate-binding domain of the protein that has a unique affinity for glycolipids and ciliated cells. The protein also has the heparin-binding activity, which allows the attachment of the bacteria to non-ciliated cells.
What is the best test for pertussis?
The samples commonly used for the diagnosis of pertussis are nasopharyngeal aspirate or nasopharyngeal swabs.
Who first described Pertussis?
History. The disease pertussis was first described by French physician Guillaume de Baillou after the epidemic of 1578. The causative agent of pertussis was identified and isolated by Jules Bordet and Octave Gengou in 1906.
How many people died from pertussis in the US?
Pertussis is an infection of the respiratory system characterized by a “whooping” sound when the person breathes in. In the US, it killed between 10,000 and 20,000 people per year before a vaccine was available. Vaccination has transformed this; between 1985 and 1988, fewer than 100 children died from pertussis. Worldwide in 2000, according to the WHO, around 39 million people were infected annually and about 297,000 died. Since the introduction of vaccination in England in 1957, the rate of pertussis infection has dropped by 97%.
What is the treatment for whooping cough?
Whooping cough is treated by macrolides, for example erythromycin. The therapy is most effective when started during the incubation period or the catarrhal period. When applied during the paroxysmal cough phase, the time of reconvalescence is not affected, only further transmission is prevented.
Why does coughing last a minute?
However, when not in a coughing fit, the patient does not experience trouble breathing. This is because B. pertussis inhibits the immune response, so very little mucus is generated in the lungs.
What does it mean when you cough without a whoop?
The paroxysmal cough precedes a crowing inspiratory sound characteristic of pertussis. After a spell, the patient might make a “whooping” sound when breathing in, or may vomit. Adults have milder symptoms, such as prolonged coughing without the “whoop”. Infants less than six months also may not have the typical whoop.
What is the PTX in lymphocytosis?
PTx, formerly known as lymphocytosis-promoting factor, causes a decrease in the entry of lymphocytes into lymph nodes , which can lead to a condition known as lymphocytosis, with a complete lymphocyte count of over 4000/μl in adults or over 8000/μl in children.
Is Bordetella a Gram negative organism?
Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative, aerobic, pathogenic, encapsulated coccobacillus of the genus Bordetella, and the causative agent of pertussis or whooping cough. Like B. bronchiseptica, B. pertussis is motile and expresses a flagellum-like structure. Its virulence factors include pertussis toxin, adenylate cyclase toxin, ...
How is Bordatella pertussis spread?
The bacteria is spread by airborne droplets from infected people. Humans are the only known carriers of Bordatella pertussis. It is not known to be a zoonosis and cannot survive on inanimate objects. The disease has to live in a warmer temperature, like that of the human body.
What is Bordetella pertussis?
Bordetella pertussis is most commonly known as the cause of pertussis which is commonly called whooping cough. The bacteria is spread by airborne droplets from infected people.
What is the name of the disease that makes a whooping sound when breathing?
Pertussis is an infection of the respiratory system. It was called the whooping cough since victims of the disease make a whooping sound when breathing. Although the disease used to kill thousands of people a year, a vaccine was developed in the twentieth century and does not exist in the United States today.
What happens to the lungs after a person breathes in a bacterium?
After a victim has breathed in the bacteria, it begins to colonize the lung epithelial cells. The bacteria produces a toxin which acts as a paralyzer, stopping the cilia from beating and clearing the debris and mucus from the lungs.
How long does a bacterial infection last?
In adults, the infection turns into a chronic disorder, lasting for months and sometimes even years. Unless the immune system is compromised or the patient has other problems, the immune system has a good chance of killing the bacteria, although the recovery time is very slow.
Is Bordetella pertussis gram negative?
Bordetella Pertussis. Bordetella pertussis is a kind of bacteria. It is a gram-negative organism and has a morphology named coccobacillus. It is an aerobic organism, meaning that it has to be in an oxygenated atmosphere in order to survive. This bacteria is non-motile, meaning that it lacks fimbrae or a flagella and cannot move ...

Overview
History
- Pertussis is a very contagious disease only found in humans. Pertussis spreads from person to person. People with pertussis usually spread the disease to another person by coughing or sneezing or when spending a lot of time near one another where you share breathing space. Many babies who get pertussis are infected by older siblings, parents, or ca...
Taxonomy
Pertussis
Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative, aerobic, pathogenic, encapsulated coccobacillus of the genus Bordetella, and the causative agent of pertussis or whooping cough. Like B. bronchiseptica, B. pertussis is motile and expresses a flagellum-like structure. Its virulence factors include pertussis toxin, adenylate cyclase toxin, filamentous hæmagglutinin, pertactin, fimbria, and tracheal cytotoxin
Prevention
The disease pertussis was first described by French physician Guillaume de Baillou after the epidemic of 1578. The causative agent of pertussis was identified and isolated by Jules Bordet and Octave Gengou in 1906. SHUT UP GENN
As a zoonotic disease
The genus Bordetella contains nine species: B. pertussis B. parapertussis, B. bronchiseptica, B. avium, B. hinzii, B. holmesii, B. trematum, B. ansorpii and B. petrii.
B. pertussis, B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica form a closely related phylogenetical group. B. parapertussis causes a disease similar to whooping cough in humans, and B. bronchiseptica infects a range of mammal hosts, including humans, and causes a spectrum of respiratory disor…
Diagnosis
Pertussis is an infection of the respiratory system characterized by a “whooping” sound when the person breathes in. In the US, it killed between 10,000 and 20,000 people per year before a vaccine was available. Vaccination has transformed this; between 1985 and 1988, fewer than 100 children died from pertussis. Worldwide in 2000, according to the WHO, around 39 million people were infected annually and about 297,000 died. Since the introduction of vaccination in England …
Treatment
Pertussis vaccine has been widely used since the second half of the 20th century. The first vaccines were whole-cell vaccines, composed of chemically inactivated bacteria. They are being replaced by acellular vaccines, composed of purified surface antigens, mainly fimbriae, filamentous haemaglutinin, pertactin and pertussis toxin. It is part of the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) immunization.