Functional BvgAS virulence control system in Bordetella bronchiseptica is necessary for induction of Ca2+ transients in ciliated tracheal epithelial cells.

To study initial Bordetella bronchiseptica-tracheal epithelial cell interactions, we coincubated B. bronchiseptica with rabbit tracheal explant cultures and assayed bacterial adherence and host cell Ca(2+) signaling. Wild-type B. bronchiseptica (RB50) preferentially adhered to cilia and induced ciliated host cell Ca(2+) transients within 2 min of coincubation, whereas coincubation with an avirulent strain (RB57) resulted in limited binding and Ca(2+) signaling. The described cell system allows for assessment of initial B. bronchiseptica-host cell interactions that can contribute to pathogenicity or to host cell defense.