Pertussis Toxin

Pertussis Toxin presents the proceeding of the Pertussis Toxin Conference, held in Bethesda, Maryland, on September 20-21, 1984. This book discusses the perspective of the pertussis toxin and the potential role of the toxin in the development of new acellular pertussis vaccines. Organized into 13 chapters, this text begins with an overview of the biological activities of pertussis vaccine, which enhanced the production of antibodies to antigens. This book then examines the interesting action of pertussis vaccine to stimulate antibody production, particularly as an effective adjuvant for the production of IgE isotype of antibodies. Other chapters consider the experimental approaches used in the study of the mechanisms by which hormones produce their physiological effect. The final chapter examines the several features of the Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin, which suggest that the molecule may follow the A/B model proposed for a number of bacterial toxins. This book is a valuable resource for toxicologists, immunologists, bacteriologists, and pharmacologists.