Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis, which cause whooping cough in humans, evolved from Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacteria that can cause respiratory infections in a large number of mammals. A study by Dimitri Diavatopoulos has shown that B. pertussis evolved from a specific offshoot of B. bronchiseptica that already preferred human hosts. This suggests that these kinds of bacteria continue to adapt to their human hosts and that there is selective pressure to change in order to prevent immunological crossreactivity.
Dimitri Diavatopoulos
Evolution and host-adaptation of the mammalian bordetellae
PhD advisor 1: Prof. F.R. Mooi
PhD advisor 2: Prof. J. Verhoef
Co-advisor: Dr. L.M. Schouls
10 February 2006 12:45 PM, Academiegebouw, Domplein 29, Utrecht