Deciphering the genome of Bordetella pertussis could help scientists move more quickly in their efforts to develop better vaccines and treatments to combat the bacterium, which kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide each year.
It took years for British, German and American scientists to uncover the complete DNA sequence of the bacterium, BBC News Online reports. The genome appears in the journal Nature Genetics.
The researchers also completed the genomes of two other related microbes. One is B. parpapertussis, which can also cause whooping cough in humans. The other is B. bronchiseptica, responsible for respiratory infections in many animals. – (HealthDayNews)
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