Name of Disease
Pertussis, also commonly called Whooping Cough
Description of Disease (taxonomic classification, and picture of pathogen
Pertussis aka Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis from the Betaproteobacteria class and Alcaligenaceae family Scientists have found eight species in the Bordetella genus, and of those eight, three of them are known to be pathogenic to humans. The most common are B. pertussis and B. parapertussis, and both cause whooping cough in people. They are distinguished by the toxins released during infection. B. Parapertussis releases toxins that appear to be a less severe form of pertussis and B. bronchiseptica may cause respiratory problems in humans …show more content…
The pertussis toxin is released in an inactive form, then continues by binding to a cell membrane receptor, and taken into an endosome. It is then transported to the trans-Golgi network and endoplasmic reticulum. PT is known to detach into two parts in the endoplasmic reticulum; the enzymatically active A subunit and the cell-binding B subunit. While transporting, the A subunit activates, PT catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation of the αi subunits of the heterotrimeric G protein. Impeding G proteins from interrelating with receptors, therefore interfering with intracellular communication. The Gi subunits remain in an inactive state, and unable to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity, leading to increased cellular concentrations of cAMP, causing issues with normal biological signaling. The toxin causes several bodily concerns, such as increased release of insulin, causing hypoglycemia as well as paralyzing the cilia, causing inflammation to occur in the respiratory tract, creating problems with the clearance of pulmonary secretions. Bordetella pertussis has another toxin which is the adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA), it infects the cells by a calcium-dependent mechanism and is transferred across the target cell’s plasma membrane. It was recently found that the bacteria B. pertussis can invade the tissues due to …show more content…
In the early stages also known as the Catarrhal stage of pertussis, the symptoms appear to be nothing more than a common cold and last for one to two weeks. Early symptoms of pertussis include Runny noses, mild or an occasional cough, mild fever, and apnea in babies which is a pause in their breathing. In this stage, the individual is most contagious. After the early stage symptoms are over, comes the later-stage symptoms also called the Paroxysmal stage which includes: busts of severe coughing followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound, throwing up during or after coughing, and fatigue due to coughing fits. As the illness continues, the coughing fits increase in severity and may go on for up to ten weeks. In the recovery stage, known as the convalescent stage the coughing decreases but may occur on and off for weeks. It is dangerous to infants and less severe to teens and adults, especially individuals who have received the
Pertussis, also commonly called Whooping Cough
Description of Disease (taxonomic classification, and picture of pathogen
Pertussis aka Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis from the Betaproteobacteria class and Alcaligenaceae family Scientists have found eight species in the Bordetella genus, and of those eight, three of them are known to be pathogenic to humans. The most common are B. pertussis and B. parapertussis, and both cause whooping cough in people. They are distinguished by the toxins released during infection. B. Parapertussis releases toxins that appear to be a less severe form of pertussis and B. bronchiseptica may cause respiratory problems in humans …show more content…
The pertussis toxin is released in an inactive form, then continues by binding to a cell membrane receptor, and taken into an endosome. It is then transported to the trans-Golgi network and endoplasmic reticulum. PT is known to detach into two parts in the endoplasmic reticulum; the enzymatically active A subunit and the cell-binding B subunit. While transporting, the A subunit activates, PT catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation of the αi subunits of the heterotrimeric G protein. Impeding G proteins from interrelating with receptors, therefore interfering with intracellular communication. The Gi subunits remain in an inactive state, and unable to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity, leading to increased cellular concentrations of cAMP, causing issues with normal biological signaling. The toxin causes several bodily concerns, such as increased release of insulin, causing hypoglycemia as well as paralyzing the cilia, causing inflammation to occur in the respiratory tract, creating problems with the clearance of pulmonary secretions. Bordetella pertussis has another toxin which is the adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA), it infects the cells by a calcium-dependent mechanism and is transferred across the target cell’s plasma membrane. It was recently found that the bacteria B. pertussis can invade the tissues due to …show more content…
In the early stages also known as the Catarrhal stage of pertussis, the symptoms appear to be nothing more than a common cold and last for one to two weeks. Early symptoms of pertussis include Runny noses, mild or an occasional cough, mild fever, and apnea in babies which is a pause in their breathing. In this stage, the individual is most contagious. After the early stage symptoms are over, comes the later-stage symptoms also called the Paroxysmal stage which includes: busts of severe coughing followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound, throwing up during or after coughing, and fatigue due to coughing fits. As the illness continues, the coughing fits increase in severity and may go on for up to ten weeks. In the recovery stage, known as the convalescent stage the coughing decreases but may occur on and off for weeks. It is dangerous to infants and less severe to teens and adults, especially individuals who have received the