Modulation of Bordetella pertussis by nicotinic acid.

Growth of Bordetella pertussis in a high concentration of nicotinic acid (NA) had a modulating effect on several properties and activities of the bacteria. Compared with normally grown cells, those grown in a high concentration of NA had reduced capacity for taking up both NA and nicotinamide (ND); they had reduced adenylate cyclase activity and showed loss of agglutinogen factors 2 and 3, but an increase in factor 1. By contrast, cells grown in a high concentration of ND showed only a slightly decreased capacity for uptake of ND and none of the other changes. Modulation of B. pertussis by NA varied with the strain and culture conditions and appeared to be distinct from the antigenic modulation induced by high Mg2+ in the culture medium. Evidence is presented for the association of a small proportion of the extracytoplasmic adenylate cyclase with the outer membrane of B. pertussis.