Altered gene expression in response to Bordetella pertussis infection

Abstract

Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis, which has a highly selective tropism in humans for the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract. This pathogen produces an array of powerful toxins that penetrate tissues, kill cells, immobilize the ciliary elevator and cause the accumulation of thick mucus in the airway. Despite the well-known clinical manifestations of B. pertussis infection, relatively little is known about the host response to infection with this pathogen. To further delineate the role respiratory epithelial cells play in initiating and modulating the host response to B. pertussis infection, Belcher et al.1. Belcher C.E et al. The transcriptional responses of respiratory eptihelial cells to Bordetella pertussis reveal host defensive and pathogen counter-defensive strategies. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2000; 97: 13847-13852 Crossref PubMed Scopus (139) Google Scholar recently published the results of their use of high-density cDNA arrays to analyse genome-wide gene expression in a human bronchial epithelial cell line in response to B. pertussis infection.