Sketchy Micro: Bordatella Pertussis

Question 1

B. pertussis is highly contagious because it uses _____________ to attach to respiratory epithelium.

Answer 1

filamentous hemagglutinin (just like the filament-like streamers that line the war hero’s recovery room at the BOaRD and care)

Question 2

What is the mechanism of pertussis toxin?

Answer 2

It ribosylates Gi and thus leads to an increase in cAMP.

(Think of the soldier in the wheelchair – he’s a “disabled GI”… get it? –and he’s wearing a BOW to help you remember riBOWsylation. Outside the window, there is a large CAMP of tents… showing the increase in cAMP.)

Question 3

Ribosylation also leads to what effect in pertussis infection?

Answer 3

Lymphocytosis, by the inhibition of cytokine receptors

Think of the GI knocking over the popcorn container, which is meant to represent lymphocytosis.

Question 4

Other than pertussis toxin, how does B. pertussis increase cAMP?

Answer 4

It has edematous factor, which is an adenylate cyclase toxin that enters the cell and increases production of cAMP.

(Think of the EF edematous factor shield on the wall.)

Question 5

What toxin produced by Bordatella leads to cleavage of cilia?

Answer 5

The tracheal toxin

Like the TRACheal TRACtor that is mowing the cilia grass in the midline road outside the window.

Question 6

True or false: the “whooping” describes the cough.

Answer 6

False. The whooping is the violent in breath that kids have after coughing vigorously.

Question 7

Whooping cough is also called ____________.

Answer 7

the hundred-days’ cough

Question 8

What is used to treat pertussis?

Answer 8

Macrolides (like the macrolide crows on the windowsill –also showing the bird covering its mouth indicating the need for protection against respiratory droplets)

Question 9

The pertussis vaccine is an ____________ vaccine.

Answer 9

acellular

(The TDaP has an “a” in it because it is acellular pertussis. Think of the needle next to “a cellular” phone on the windowsill.)