Pertactin adheres to only ciliated epithelial cells of B. bronchiseptica in vivo. However, in vitro, PRN does not adhere to either. PRN does however help provide resistance towards a hyperinflammatory response of innate immunity for B. bronchiseptica. With respect to the adaptive immunity, studies show that PRN plays a role in combating neutrophil-mediated clearance of B. bronchiseptica.