Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026
Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
Published on: February 22, 2019
Characterisation of the Bordetella pertussis secretome under different media
Laurence Don Wai Luu1, Sophie Octavia1, Ling Zhong2
1School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract:
Our understanding of the Bordetella pertussis secretome remains limited including the role of different growth conditions in the secretome. In this study the secretome of L1423, a clinical isolate from the 2008-2012 Australian epidemic, cultured on Stainer-Scholte (SS) and Thalen-IJssel (THIJS) media for 12h was characterised using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In the supernatant, LC-MS/MS identified 260 proteins with 143 bioinformatically predicted to be secreted. Eighty percent of proteins were identified in both media. Proteins secreted were functionally associated with cell surface (41%), pathogenicity (16%) and transport (17%). The most abundant proteins identified were pathogenic proteins including toxins (PtxA and CyaA), adhesins (TcfA) and type III secretion (T3SS) proteins. There were 46 proteins found uniquely in THIJS including 8 virulence associated proteins. These included T3SS proteins, adhesins (FhaL and FhaS) and a putative toxin (BP1251). Nine proteins were found uniquely in SS and these were metabolic and transport-related proteins. None of the unique proteins detected in SS were known to be virulence associated. This study found that THIJS promotes secretion of virulence factors based on the number of unique virulence proteins found and may be a growth media of choice for the study of B. pertussis virulence and vaccine development.
Biological Significance:
Over the past two decades, the number of B. pertussis notifications has risen despite vaccination. There is a greater need to understand the biology behind B. pertussis infections. The secretome of B. pertussis in two different media was characterised using LC-MS/MS. The results showed that THIJS promotes secretion of importance virulence factors which may be important for the development of vaccines.
Insights
Thalen-IJssel medium enhances Bordetella pertussis virulence factor secretion compared to Stainer-Scholte medium. This finding is crucial for understanding pertussis and developing new vaccines.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Proteomics
- Immunology
Background:
- Bordetella pertussis infections are rising despite vaccination.
- Understanding B. pertussis biology and secretome is critical.
- Limited knowledge exists on how growth conditions affect the B. pertussis secretome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the B. pertussis secretome under different growth conditions.
- To identify proteins secreted by B. pertussis in Stainer-Scholte (SS) and Thalen-IJssel (THIJS) media.
- To determine the impact of growth media on virulence factor secretion.
Main Methods:
- Cultured B. pertussis clinical isolate L1423 in SS and THIJS media for 12 hours.
- Utilized liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to analyze the secretome.
- Bioinformatically predicted secreted proteins and analyzed functional associations.
Main Results:
- Identified 260 proteins in the supernatant, with 143 predicted as secreted.
- Eighty percent of proteins were common to both SS and THIJS media.
- THIJS medium uniquely secreted 46 proteins, including 8 virulence factors like T3SS proteins and adhesins.
- SS medium uniquely secreted 9 metabolic and transport proteins, none known virulence factors.
- Abundant secreted proteins included toxins (PtxA, CyaA) and adhesins (TcfA).
Conclusions:
- Thalen-IJssel (THIJS) medium promotes the secretion of a greater number of virulence factors compared to Stainer-Scholte (SS) medium.
- THIJS may be a preferred medium for studying B. pertussis virulence.
- These findings have implications for B. pertussis vaccine development.
