Quantitative proteomics analysis of pertussis: Uncovering biomarkers for diagnosis and disease monitoring and insights into pathogenesis

Pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis, remains a significant global health challenge despite vaccination efforts. China has witnessed a resurgence of cases, especially among young children. The diverse clinical manifestations and non-specific symptoms hinder early diagnosis. This study utilized quantitative proteomics analysis to explore differential protein expression in pertussis bacteremia, pneumonia, and non-complicated cases. The key findings include distinct protein profiles across different infection types, which suggest potential biomarkers and offer insights into disease severity and progression. Specifically, proteins such as ADH6 and TTC38 were significantly upregulated in pertussis sepsis, while LRRC42 was downregulated in pertussis pneumonia. During the progression of pertussis sepsis, NCOA3 increased and KCRS decreased from disease onset to improvement, and SAA2 surged in the recovery stage. In comparing pertussis sepsis patients with different outcomes, PTMS, NNMT, and ASSY were downregulated in the deceased patient.These findings enhance our understanding of pertussis pathogenesis, providing crucial insights for the development of more effective vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments, ultimately aiming to reduce the global burden of this infectious disease.