So today there was a error in word-wrapping across all of Blogger for the dynamic template that I had been using. To fix the problem, I've switched back to a more traditional template and I think I like it better! Let me know what you think in the comments.
TIL: The diseases cholera and pertussis are both caused by bacteria that release toxins that disrupt intracellular signal transduction (the receipt and amplification of a signal from outside the cell to the interior of the cell). The specific enzyme affected by both toxins is adenyl cyclase which converts AMP to cAMP. Even though both conditions have the same effect, the main difference between them is the location of the bacterial infection. The vibrio cholera bacteria colonize the gut, meanwhile bordetella pertussis settles in the lungs.
The other big difference in these diseases is that unlike cholera, pertussis can be vaccinated against. This is why whooping cough (the other name for pertussis) has been so rare in developed countries. It it making the news again as certain populations have stopped vaccinating their kids, disrupting our herd immunity and resulting in outbreaks. Vaccines save lives and are incredibly, reliably safe. Make sure everyone you know is vaccinating their kids!
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