Whooping cough bacterium evolves in Australia

(University of New South Wales) The bacterium that causes whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis, has changed in Australia -- most likely in response to the vaccine used to prevent the disease -- with a possible reduced effectiveness of the vaccine as a result. A UNSW-led team of researchers analysed strains of Bordetella pertussis from across Australia and found that many strains no longer produce a key surface protein called pertactin. The study is published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news