Overexpression of the RNA Polymerase Alpha Subunit Reduces Transcription of Bvg-Activated Virulence Genes in Bordetella pertussis

Overexpression of the RNA polymerase alpha subunit in Bordetella pertussis reduces expression of the virulence factor pertussis toxin. Here we show that this reduction is at the level of transcription, is reversed by overexpression of the transcriptional activator BvgA, and is dependent on the C-terminal domain of alpha.