Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Detection of Toxin Translocation into the Host Cytosol by Surface Plasmon Resonance
10:41

Detection of Toxin Translocation into the Host Cytosol by Surface Plasmon Resonance

Published on: January 3, 2012

Role of pertussis toxin in causing symptoms of Bordetella parapertussis infection

C H Wirsing von König1, H Finger

  • 1Institut für Hygiene und Laboratoriumsmedizin, Städtische Krankenanstalten, Krefeld, Germany.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|June 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Pertussis toxin may not be the primary cause of typical whooping cough symptoms. Bordetella parapertussis infections, lacking this toxin, presented similar symptoms to Bordetella pertussis infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Whooping cough is caused by Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis.
  • These bacteria share high DNA similarity, but B. parapertussis lacks pertussis toxin, a presumed key virulence factor.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of pertussis toxin in causing characteristic whooping cough symptoms.
  • To compare clinical manifestations between B. parapertussis and B. pertussis infections.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical data from 33 B. parapertussis and 331 B. pertussis infected patients were analyzed.
  • Pertussis toxin absence in B. parapertussis was confirmed via histamine sensitization tests.
  • Leukocyte counts were compared between the two infection groups.

Main Results:

  • B. parapertussis strains lacked pertussis toxin, evidenced by negative histamine sensitization.
  • Patients with B. parapertussis showed significantly lower leukocyte counts than those with B. pertussis.
  • Typical whooping cough symptoms (paroxysmal coughing, whooping, vomiting) occurred with similar frequency in both groups.

Conclusions:

  • Pertussis toxin may not be essential for the development of hallmark whooping cough symptoms.
  • Nocturnal coughing and known contact were more common in B. pertussis cases.
  • B. parapertussis infected children had higher rates of prior whole-cell pertussis vaccination.

More Related Videos

A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments07:30

A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments

Published on: November 9, 2017

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice08:52

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice

Published on: February 22, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Toxins01:12

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
Inhalation Anthrax01:25

Inhalation Anthrax

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium. It primarily affects herbivorous animals but can be transmitted to humans through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation of spores.Cutaneous anthrax, the most common form, typically results from direct contact with bacterial spores through skin abrasions and is generally less severe. Gastrointestinal anthrax results from eating undercooked or contaminated meat. It affects the mouth, throat, or...
Tetanus01:29

Tetanus

Tetanus is a life-threatening neurological disorder characterized by persistent muscle contractions and spastic paralysis. It is caused by Clostridium tetani, a motile, Gram-positive, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobe. These bacteria produce terminal endospores, giving them a distinctive “lollipop” or “tennis-racket” appearance. They thrive in anaerobic environments, such as those found in deep puncture wounds.Once introduced into the body, the spores germinate into vegetative cells. These cells...
Botulism01:22

Botulism

Botulism is a life-threatening neuroparalytic condition caused by botulinum neurotoxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, a Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobe.In adults, the toxin enters the body in different ways: in foodborne botulism, the preformed toxin is absorbed in the intestine. In wound botulism, spores grow in injured tissue and release the toxin into the blood. Infant botulism differs mechanistically from adult forms. In infants, botulism commonly...
Diphtheria01:28

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...