Recent Advances in the Study of Bordetella pertussis Biofilms: an Overview

SERRA, D. O.; BOSCH, A.; CONOVER, M. S.; LÜCKING, G., EHLING-SCHULZ, M.; ARNAL, L.; CATTELAN, N.; DEORA, R. AND YANTORNO, O. M.

Copenhague

Congreso; Eurobiofilm 2011. Second European Congress on Microbial Biofilms. Basics and Clinical Aspects; 2011

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

Whooping cough is a highly infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract in humans cause by Bordetella pertussis. Despite intensive vaccination, in the last two decades whooping cough has experience a marked resurgence worldwide [1]. Although traditionally known as a severe childhood disease, its resurgence was associated with an increased incidence in vaccinated adolescents and adults. In this age group the disease symptoms are mild or even not manifested, consequently, the infected individuals become silent carriers of the pathogen, facilitating its circulation in the population. One proposed hypothesis to explain the survival and continued persistence of Bordetella pertussis in human host is that this organism may adopt a biofilm lifestyle during respiratory infection as a strategy to survive and persist in their host (Fig. 1).