Final answer:
The bacteria responsible for whooping cough is Bordetella pertussis, which causes severe cough and is prevented by the DTaP vaccine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bacteria responsible for causing whooping cough is Bordetella pertussis. Whooping cough, known medically as pertussis, is an infectious bacterial disease that primarily affects the respiratory system. Patients suffering from whooping cough experience severe bouts of coughing which can lead to a high-pitched "whoop" sound during the intake of breath.
Bordetella pertussis is a gram-negative coccobacillus that produces several toxins which damage the respiratory tract cells and paralyze the cilia, necessary for clearing debris from the respiratory tract. Because of its highly communicable nature, vaccination with the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis) vaccine is recommended to prevent this disease.