title: Differential in vitro expression of the brkA gene in Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis clinical isolates.
abstract: In this study, we set up a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay to measure the relative amounts of brkA transcripts in 50 Bordetella isolates. The results suggested that brkA expression is strain dependent and its level may play a role in determining the serum resistance or susceptibility phenotype. Pertussis immunocompetent sera were unable to kill Bordetella parapertussis via complement deposition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, V. le Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stefanelli
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanguinetti
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Posteraro
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fadda
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastrantonio
mesh_terms: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D001885:Bordetella Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D042483:Bordetella parapertussis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C090007:BrkA protein, Bordetella pertussis