The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of the Bordetella species to include one or more mutations preventing expression of the gene encoding the Bordetella Sigma Regulator (also referred to as “bsr,” “btrS,” and “brpL”), compositions and vaccines thereof, and the use of such engineered strains in methods to protect against Bordetella spp, including but not limited to Bordetella bronchiseptica, B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, B. homelsii, or B. avium. In some aspects, the present invention provides the Bordetella bronchiseptica strain RB50Δ；bsr, compositions and vaccines thereof, and the use of Bordetella bronchiseptica strain RB50Δ；fer in methods to protect against Bordetella spp, including but not limited to Bordetella bronchiseptica, B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, B. homelsii, or B. avium.
