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Pertussis: an old disease in a new era
1Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City 84132.
Seminars in Respiratory Infections
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Pertussis reemerged due to vaccine safety concerns, prompting research into Bordetella pertussis virulence factors. Understanding these factors is key to developing safer, more effective pertussis vaccines.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) remains a global health concern with 51 million annual cases and a 1% fatality rate, primarily affecting young children.
- Reemergence of pertussis in areas with vaccine cessation highlights the need for improved vaccines due to safety concerns with whole-cell pertussis vaccines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the virulence determinants of Bordetella pertussis.
- To understand the molecular basis of pertussis pathogenesis.
- To explore the potential for developing new pertussis vaccines with improved safety profiles.
Main Methods:
- Identification and characterization of virulence genes in Bordetella pertussis.
- Molecular analysis of factors regulating virulence gene expression.
- Construction of Bordetella pertussis mutants deficient in specific virulence factors.
- Application of molecular Koch's postulates to study the role of virulence factors in pathogenesis.
Main Results:
- Virulence genes and their regulatory factors in Bordetella pertussis have been identified and characterized.
- Molecular insights into pertussis pathogenesis have been gained.
- The ability to create specific B. pertussis mutants facilitates the study of individual virulence factor roles.
Conclusions:
- Understanding Bordetella pertussis virulence factors is crucial for elucidating disease pathogenesis.
- Host factors may influence the expression of virulence genes.
- Further research into virulence factors and the mucosal environment is essential for developing next-generation pertussis vaccines.