Bordetellabiofilms: a lifestyle leading to persistent infections

Abstract

Bordetella bronchiseptica and B. pertussis are Gram-negative bacteria that cause respiratory diseases in animals and humans. The current incidence of whooping cough or pertussis caused by B. pertussis has reached levels not observed since the 1950s. Although pertussis is traditionally known as an acute childhood disease, it has recently resurged in vaccinated adolescents and adults. These individuals often become silent carriers, facilitating bacterial circulation and transmission. Similarly, vaccinated and non-vaccinated animals continue to be carriers of B. bronchiseptica and shed bacteria resulting in disease outbreaks. The persistence mechanisms of these bacteria remain poorly characterized. It has been proposed that adoption of a biofilm lifestyle allows persistent colonization of the mammalian respiratory tract. The history of Bordetella biofilm research is only a decade long and there is no single review article that has exclusively focused on this area. We systematically discuss the role of Bordetella factors in biofilm development in vitro and in the mouse respiratory tract. We further outline the implications of biofilms to bacterial persistence and transmission in humans and for the design of new acellular pertussis vaccines.

Bacterial Biofilm and its Role in the Pathogenesis of Disease

“…Bordertella biofilms have been demonstrated in mouse models (reviewed by [182]). In both a nose and a trachea model, distinct architectural features adherent to ciliated epithelium were observed; in the form of mats, towers or pillars for B. bronchiseptica, and clusters and macrocolonies for B. pertussis.…”

Chemical Synthesis and Immunological Evaluation of a Pentasaccharide Bearing Multiple Rare Sugars as a Potential Anti‐pertussis Vaccine

“…Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused primarily by the infection of a Gram‐negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis ( B. pertussis ) . However, despite the availability of vaccines such as the acellular vaccines (aPVs), 24.1 million infections and 160 700 deaths have been estimated worldwide in children younger than 5 years alone each year due to pertussis .…”

Crystal Violet and XTT Assays on Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Quantification

“…As most of the natural microorganisms exist in bacterial biofilm form, the pathogenic species may be a potential concern for public health and food safety, including seafood contamination due to natural occurrence of biofilm formation [17]. Bordetella biofilm mediated persistent infections both in animals and human [2], as well as in a large number of Staphylococcal Food Poisoning cases caused by S. aureus biofilm formation [9]. During food processing, the microorganisms deposited on the food or equipment surfaces may further get attached and grow, and eventually multiply zealously to gain a colony of cells [15], leading to either food contamination or equipment corrosion in the long run.…”