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Category: Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology; Bacterial Pathogenesis
Brucella, a Perfect Trojan Horse in Phagocytes, Page 1 of 2
< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555816650/9781555814014_Chap27-1.gif /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555816650/9781555814014_Chap27-2.gifAbstract:
Several species of the genus Brucella are responsible for brucellosis: Brucella melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis, B. canis, B. ovis, and B. neotomae. Brucella has also been isolated from a variety of terrestrial wildlife mammal species such as elk, buffalo, reindeer, and bison as well as from marine mammals, illustrating its broad host range. Currently, of the six main species of Brucella, four can cause disease in humans, with B. melitensis having the most severe pathogenicity, followed by B. suis, which is more rare but still presents severe pathogenicity, and then B. abortus and B. canis, which are less pathogenic in humans. Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the virulence factors that enable Brucella to reside within phagocytic cells and escape their killing mechanisms. In essence, Brucella is able to proliferate extensively within both macrophages and nonphagocytic epithelial cells without affecting their basic cellular functions or inducing cell death. It efficiently controls its own intracellular trafficking in order to avoid degradation within lysosomes and reach an intracellular compartment suited for replication, which we commonly designate as the Brucella-containing vacuole (BCV). Several virulence factors have been implicated in Brucella resistance to cellular defensive mechanisms and interaction with cellular pathways to create the environment suited for its intracellular survival. In recent years great advances have been made in our understanding of its pathogenesis, due in particular to the availability of the genome sequences.
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