Bordetella Pertussis (Last Updated - 4/30/2005)
-causative agent behind pertussis (aka "whooping cough")
-acquired via aspiration
-Gram neg. bacillus (rod)
-Non-motile
-invades oropharyngeal mucosa --> increased mucous secretion
-exotoxin-producing (pertussis toxin)
-via permanent adenylate cyclase stimulation by ADP ribosylation --> increased cAMP
-induces high-titer Ab's (antitoxins) --> toxoids used as vaccines
-inhibits chemokine receptors --> lymphocytosis
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References:
1) Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary: 19th Edition. 1997: pg. 1631-1632
2) First Aid For The USMLE Step 1. Bhushan et al. 2002. pg. 179-180, 188
3) The Merck Manual: 17th Edition. 1999: pg. 1123, 2096-2097, 2306-2308