Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Detection ofBordetella pertussis by determination of adenylate cyclase activity

  • Notes
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The adenylate cyclase activity ofBordetella pertussis in clinical isolates was measured in calmodulin-supplemented Stainer-Scholte broth by the rate of conversion of ATP to cyclic AMP. Analysis of 250 stock strains ofBordetella pertussis showed that measurable adenylate cyclase activity was produced by all strains. In clinical testsBordetella pertussis was isolated from 135 (22 %) of 605 swab samples. Increased adenylate cyclase activity was detected in 124 (92 %) Stainer-Scholte broth cultures of these samples. A total of 475 swabs contained other bacteria or had no growth; only one of the Stainer-Scholte broth cultures of these swab samples contained measurable adenylate cyclase activity. The results indicate that testing for adenylate cyclase activity provides a specific and sensitive means for detectingBordetella pertussis in clinical specimens.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pittman, M. Pertussis toxin: the cause of harmful effects and prolonged immunity of whooping cough. A hypothesis. Review of Infectious Diseases 1979, 1: 401–412.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wolff, J., Cook, G. H. Activation of thyroid membrane adenylate cyclase by purine nucleotides. Journal of Biological Chemistry 1973, 248: 350–355.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hewlett, E. L., Gordon, E. W. Adenylate cyclase toxin ofBordetella pertussis. In: Wardlaw, A. C., Parton, E. J. (ed.): Pathogenesis and immunity in pertussis. John Wiley, Chichester, 1988, pp. 193–209.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Wolff, J., Cook, G. H., Goldhammer, A. R., Berkowitz, S. A. Calmodulin activates prokaryotic adenylate cyclase. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America 1980, 77: 3841–3844.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Goldhammer, A. R., Wolff, J., Cook, G. H., Berkowitz, S. A., Klee, C., Manclark, C. R., Hewlett, E. L. Spurious protein activators ofBordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase are calmodulin. European Journal of Biochemistry 1981, 115: 605–609.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Confer, D. L., Eaton, J. W. Phagocyte impotence caused by an invasive bacterial adenylate cyclase. Science 1982, 217: 948–950.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Pearson, D. R., Symes, M., Conboy, M., Weiss, A. A., Hewlett, E. L. Inhibition of monocyte oxidative responses byBordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin. Journal of Immunology 1987, 139: 2749–2754.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hewlett, E. L., Underhill, L. H., Vargo, S. A., Wolff, J., Manclark, C. R. Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase: regulation of activity and its loss in degraded strains. In: Manclark, C. R., Hill, J. C. (ed.): International symposium on pertussis. US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1979, p. 81–85.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Confer, D. L., Eaton, J. W. Bordetella adenylate cyclase: host toxicity and diagnostic utility. Developments in Biological Standardisation 1985, 61: 3–10.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Stainer, D. W., Scholte, M. J. A simple chemically defined medium for the production of phase IBordetella pertussis. Journal of General Microbiology 1971, 63: 211–220.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Imaizumi, A., Suzuki, Y., Ono, S., Sato, H., Sato, Y. Heptakis (2,6-O-dimethyl)-β-cyclodextrin, a novel growth stimulant forBordetella pertussis phase I. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1983, 17: 781–786.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Wirsing von Koenig, C. H., Tacken, A., Finger, H. Modified Stainer-Scholte broth for detection ofBordetella pertussis in clinical specimens. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1988, 20: 2558–2560.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hewlett, E. L., Wolff, J. Soluble adenylate cyclase from the culture medium ofBordetella pertussis: purification and characterization. Journal of Bacteriology 1976, 127: 890–898.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Regan, J., Lowe, F. Enrichment medium for the isolation ofBordetella pertussis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1977, 6: 303–309.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Endoh, M., Takezawa, T., Nakase, Y. Adenylate cyclase activity in Bordetella organisms. I: Its production in liquid medium. Microbiology and Immunology 1980, 24: 95–104.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Hygiene and Laboratory Medicine, Municipal Hospital, Lutherplatz 40, 4150, Krefeld, FRG

    C. H. Wirsing von Koenig & A. Tacken

  2. Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 22908, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

    E. L. Hewlett

Authors
  1. C. H. Wirsing von Koenig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Tacken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. L. Hewlett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wirsing von Koenig, C.H., Tacken, A. & Hewlett, E.L. Detection ofBordetella pertussis by determination of adenylate cyclase activity. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 8, 633–636 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01968146

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01968146

Keywords

Search

Navigation