Bordetella pertussis

Bordetella pertussis is responsible for the famous whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease that exclusively affects humans ! This small bacterium settles in the bronchi and produces a toxin capable of disrupting the ciliated cells, those that normally help to eliminate mucus from the respiratory tract. As a result, mucus accumulates... which benefits B. pertussis, which then finds an ideal breeding ground for itself.

This causes a violent and persistent cough, often followed by a high-pitched noise when inhaling, resembling the crowing of a rooster. It is from this very particular sound that the name of the disease comes: whooping cough ! This infection is particularly dangerous in young infants, whose respiratory system is still fragile.

FUN FACT : B. pertussis is a human specialist : it doesn't attack any other species! Fortunately, thanks to vaccination , the number of cases has decreased significantly over the years. And if everyone gets vaccinated, we could even make this disease disappear forever!

But don't panic: the Bordetella pertussis sticker is completely harmless ... so why not add this legendary microbe to your scientific collection ?

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PUN: I'm "whooping"-up a nasty cough!