We describe the serendipitous discovery of BatB, a classical-type Bordetella autotransporter (AT) protein with an approximately 180-kDa passenger domain that remains noncovalently associated with the outer membrane. Like genes encoding all characterized protein virulence factors in Bordetella species, batB transcription is positively regulated by the master virulence regulatory system BvgAS. Ba...

Bordetellae are gram-negative bacteria that colonize the respiratory tracts of animals and humans. We and others have recently shown that these bacteria are capable of living as sessile communities known as biofilms on a number of abiotic surfaces. During the biofilm mode of existence, bacteria produce one or more extracellular polymeric substances that function, in part, to hold the cells toge...

Two veterinary pathogens, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella avium, were tested for their antimicrobial susceptibilities. Of the 20 antimicrobial agents tested, both species were consistently resistant to penicillin and cefuroxime but susceptible to mezlocillin, piperacillin, gentamicin, amikacin, and cefoperazone.

Bordetella hinzii is primarily recovered from poultry but can also colonize mammalian hosts and immunocompromised humans. Here, we report the first complete genome sequences of B. hinzii in two isolates recovered from humans. The availability of these sequences will hopefully aid in identifying host-specific determinants variably present within this species.

Bordetella avium is thought to be strictly an avian pathogen. However, 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified 2 isolates from 2 humans with respiratory disease as B. avium and a novel B. avium-like strain. Thus, B. avium and B. avium-like organisms are rare opportunistic human pathogens.

Clinical specimens from 9 states during 2008-2010 were tested by PCR for Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis. Of the positive samples, 13.99% were identified as B. parapertussis. It was concluded that B. parapertussis infections are more common than previously realized and contribute to cases thought to be vaccine failures.

Investigation of a clinical case of Brucella infection, in which the cause initially indicated Bordetella bronchiseptica, using automated identification techniques prompted a retrospective analysis of previously published cases of B. bronchiseptica infections in China and elsewhere. B. bronchiseptica infection is rarely found in humans, but more frequently in animals. Automated microbial identi...

Fifty-seven bacterial isolates previously identified as Bordetella avium or B. hinzii were characterized by restriction enzyme analysis (REA) and/or ribotyping. Twenty restriction endonucleases were evaluated for REA. Digestion of chromosomal DNA from the 42 B. avium and 15 B. hinzii isolates with HinfI produced 8 and 7 distinct fingerprint profiles, respectively. Digestion with DdeI further di...

Adenylate cyclase-hemolysin toxin is secreted and produced by three classical species of the genus Bordetella: Bordetella pertussis, B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica. This toxin has several properties such as: (i) adenylate cyclase activity, enhanced after interaction with the eukaryotic protein, calmodulin; (ii) a pore-forming activity; (iii) an invasive activity. It plays an important r...

INTRODUCTION Bordetella bronchiseptica can be a cause of virulent pneumonia in humans with impaired immune systems. Few cases have been reported in the medical literature where Bordetella bronchiseptica has been the only pathogen isolated during a course of interstitial pneumonia. CASE PRESENTATION A 42-year-old African-American man with human immunodeficiency virus presented with pulmonary s...