Dissertation title: Bordetella Adenylate Cyclase: Molecular Mechanism of Action and Its Use for Antigen Delivery Author: Jana Kamanová The first part of this PhD. thesis deals with molecular mechanism of action of the adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA), a key virulence factor of the whooping cough agent Bordetella pertussis. CyaA belongs to the family of RTX (Repeat-in-ToXin) proteins secreted by Gram-negative bacteria and primarily targets myeloid phagocytes, expressing the CD11b/CD18 integrin receptor (also known as αMβ2, CR3 or Mac-1). Upon binding, CyaA permeabilizes cell membranes by forming small cation-selective pores, and subverts cellular signaling by delivering into host cells an adenylate cyclase (AC) enzyme that converts ATP to cAMP...