Prevalence and genetic characterization of pertactin-deficient Bordetella pertussis in Japan.

The adhesin pertactin (Prn) is one of the major virulence factors of Bordetella pertussis, the etiological agent of whooping cough. However, a significant prevalence of Prn-deficient (Prn(-)) B. pertussis was observed in Japan. The Prn(-) isolate was first discovered in 1997, and 33 (27%) Prn(-) iso...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nao Otsuka, Hyun-Ja Han, Hiromi Toyoizumi-Ajisaka, Yukitsugu Nakamura, Yoshichika Arakawa, Keigo Shibayama, Kazunari Kamachi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3279416?pdf=render