Bacterium
Bordetella pertussis
Small respiratory coccobacillus with toxin vocabulary
bor-duh-TEL-uh per-TUSS-is
High-yield clue
Paroxysmal cough coursework clue + pertussis toxin and tracheal cytotoxin vocabulary.
Overview
A small Gram-negative coccobacillus used to teach pertussis toxin vocabulary, ciliated respiratory epithelium concepts, and vaccine-prevention framing.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Coccobacillus
- Strict aerobe concept
Lab & identification clues
- PCR vocabulary
- Special media terms to recognize
- Respiratory epithelial association
Associations
- Whooping cough vocabulary
- Acellular vaccine concept
- Toxin mechanism drills
Commonly confused with
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Respiratory syncytial virus
Frequently asked questions
What is Bordetella pertussis?
A small Gram-negative coccobacillus used to teach pertussis toxin vocabulary, ciliated respiratory epithelium concepts, and vaccine-prevention framing.
What is the Gram stain of Bordetella pertussis?
Bordetella pertussis is Gram negative.
What are the lab clues for Bordetella pertussis?
Lab clues for Bordetella pertussis include PCR vocabulary, Special media terms to recognize, and Respiratory epithelial association.
What is Bordetella pertussis commonly confused with?
Bordetella pertussis is commonly confused with Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Respiratory syncytial virus.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.