DAT (deacylating autotransporter toxin) from Bordetella parapertussis demyristoylates G_i GTPases and contributes to cough

The pathogenic bacteria Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis cause pertussis (whooping cough) and pertussis-like disease, respectively, both of which are characterized by paroxysmal coughing. We previously reported that pertussis toxin (PTx), which inactivates heterotrimeric GTPases of the G(i) family through ADP-ribosylation of their alpha subunits, causes coughing in combination with Vag8 and lipid A in B. pertussis infection. In contrast, the mechanism of cough induced by B. parapertussis, which produces Vag8 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) containing lipid A, but not PTx, remained to be elucidated. Here, we show that a toxin we named deacylating autotransporter toxin (DAT) of B. parapertussis inactivates heterotrimeric G(i) GTPases through demyristoylation of their alpha subunits and contributes to cough production along with Vag8 and LPS. These results indicate that DAT plays a role in B. parapertussis infection in place of PTx.