Bordetella pertussis

Classification

Kingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Proteobacteria

Class: Betaproteobacteria

Order: Burkholderiales

Family: Alcaligenaceae

Genus: Bordetella

Species: B. pertussis

Description and Significance

Bordetella pertusis, commonly known as whooping cough, was first defined in the 16th century. It is a respiratory tract infection depicted by a paroxysmal cough. Bordetella pertusis is extremely tiny, and is a Gram-negative aerobic coccobacilius. It can appear in singles or in pairs. Before vaccinations were prevalent, Bordetella pertusis was a major cause of death among children and infants. After the pertusis vaccine was introduced, reported cases of this infection decreased by more than 99%. Even though this infection has been contained for the most part, it is still remains a disease that is of major concern.

Pathophysiology

Humans are the only home for Bordetella pertusis. Through aerosolized droplets from coughing, Bordetella pertusis is spread. This gram-negative pleomorphic bacillius attaches to and damages ciliated respiratory epithelium.

Genome Structure

Tomaha I, a strain of Bordetella pertusis has its genome completely sequenced. One circular chromosome containing 4.086,189 nucleotides. GC bonds makes up approximately 67% of the genome. The coding density is 82%.

Another genome that is also sequenced from Bordetella pertusis is IncP-1 beta plasmid pBP135. 41,268 base pair nucleotides are contained in this genome. It also carries 46 ORF's. Two of these ORF's have closely resemble genes from a plant pathogen called "Xylella fastidiosa". These genes functions are unknown.

Cell Structure and metabolism

Being an aerobe, Bordetella pertusis uses aerobic respiration as its metabolism.