1
|
The Retrospective on Atypical Brucella Species Leads to Novel Definitions. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040813. [PMID: 35456863 PMCID: PMC9025488 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Brucella currently comprises twelve species of facultative intracellular bacteria with variable zoonotic potential. Six of them have been considered as classical, causing brucellosis in terrestrial mammalian hosts, with two species originated from marine mammals. In the past fifteen years, field research as well as improved pathogen detection and typing have allowed the identification of four new species, namely Brucella microti, Brucella inopinata, Brucella papionis, Brucella vulpis, and of numerous strains, isolated from a wide range of hosts, including for the first time cold-blooded animals. While their genome sequences are still highly similar to those of classical strains, some of them are characterized by atypical phenotypes such as higher growth rate, increased resistance to acid stress, motility, and lethality in the murine infection model. In our review, we provide an overview of state-of-the-art knowledge about these novel Brucella sp., with emphasis on their phylogenetic positions in the genus, their metabolic characteristics, acid stress resistance mechanisms, and their behavior in well-established in cellulo and in vivo infection models. Comparison of phylogenetic classification and phenotypical properties between classical and novel Brucella species and strains finally lead us to propose a more adapted terminology, distinguishing between core and non-core, and typical versus atypical brucellae, respectively.
Collapse
|
2
|
Al Dahouk S, Scholz HC, Tomaso H, Bahn P, Göllner C, Karges W, Appel B, Hensel A, Neubauer H, Nöckler K. Differential phenotyping of Brucella species using a newly developed semi-automated metabolic system. BMC Microbiol 2010; 10:269. [PMID: 20969797 PMCID: PMC2984481 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-10-269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2010] [Accepted: 10/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A commercial biotyping system (Taxa Profile™, Merlin Diagnostika) testing the metabolization of various substrates by bacteria was used to determine if a set of phenotypic features will allow the identification of members of the genus Brucella and their differentiation into species and biovars. RESULTS A total of 191 different amines, amides, amino acids, other organic acids and heterocyclic and aromatic substrates (Taxa Profile™ A), 191 different mono-, di-, tri- and polysaccharides and sugar derivates (Taxa Profile™ C) and 95 amino peptidase- and protease-reactions, 76 glycosidase-, phosphatase- and other esterase-reactions, and 17 classic reactions (Taxa Profile™ E) were tested with the 23 reference strains representing the currently known species and biovars of Brucella and a collection of 60 field isolates. Based on specific and stable reactions a 96-well "Brucella identification and typing" plate (Micronaut™) was designed and re-tested in 113 Brucella isolates and a couple of closely related bacteria.Brucella species and biovars revealed characteristic metabolic profiles and each strain showed an individual pattern. Due to their typical metabolic profiles a differentiation of Brucella isolates to the species level could be achieved. The separation of B. canis from B. suis bv 3, however, failed. At the biovar level, B. abortus bv 4, 5, 7 and B. suis bv 1-5 could be discriminated with a specificity of 100%. B. melitensis isolates clustered in a very homogenous group and could not be resolved according to their assigned biovars. CONCLUSIONS The comprehensive testing of metabolic activity allows cluster analysis within the genus Brucella. The biotyping system developed for the identification of Brucella and differentiation of its species and biovars may replace or at least complement time-consuming tube testing especially in case of atypical strains. An easy to handle identification software facilitates the applicability of the Micronaut™ system for microbiology laboratories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Al Dahouk
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, D-12277 Berlin, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
|
4
|
Broughton ES, Jahans KL. The differentiation of Brucella species by substrate specific tetrazolium reduction. Vet Microbiol 1997; 57:253-71. [PMID: 9355260 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1135(97)00135-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In the development of a tetrazolium reduction assay to replace substrate stimulated oxygen uptake for the identification of Brucella species, nine tetrazolium salts were evaluated. Only the more readily reduced compounds (MTT and INT) detected increased metabolic activity with the more fastidious, slow growing strains and with B. suis strains on L-arginine and DL-ornithine. The assay was optimised with MTT. MTT reduction profiles offered with the medium on which the cells were grown. Cells grown on TSA gave profiles more similar to the published respirometric results than those grown on SDA. The optimal substrate concentration was 0.84 g l-1 and prolonged (> 3 h) exposure to substrate was necessary before adding MTT. MTT concentration was not critical and the OD was proportional to the MTT concentration between 0.03 and > 0.5 g l-1. MTT reduction was linear for 60 min after its addition. The reaction was, therefore, stopped after 60 min by adding formaldehyde solution. The optimised assay was evaluated with 71 strains of Brucella, representing all the species and biovars of the genus. Each strain was assigned to its previously identified species and sub-groups were defined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E S Broughton
- FAO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Brucellosis, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Addlestone, Surrey, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lord VR, Cherwonogrodzky JW, Marcano MJ, Melendez G. Serological and bacteriological study of swine brucellosis. J Clin Microbiol 1997; 35:295-7. [PMID: 8968931 PMCID: PMC229562 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.35.1.295-297.1997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A serological and bacteriological study was performed with sera taken from 2,228 swine from six states in Venezuela. None of the animals were vaccinated against brucellosis, and the prevalence of the disease varied from 5 to 89% on farms located in these states. Our studies indicated that the animals could be categorized into four groups depending on the degree of reactivity in serological tests. Brucella suis biovar 1 was isolated from the lymph nodes, spleens, and semen samples of seropositive animals and identified by oxidative metabolic techniques. B. suis could not be isolated from tissues of seronegative swine even from farms with cases of the disease (detected by serology). Results suggest that, although the immunodiffusion assay using Brucella melitensis B115 polysaccharide B or B. abortus 1119-3 O-polysaccharide could be useful in the detection of active infections, it is perhaps not as sensitive as some of the other standard serological tests used in this study for the detection of swine brucellosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V R Lord
- Instituto de Investigaciones Veterinarias, Laboratorio de Brucelosis, Maracay, Venezuela
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ewalt DR, Payeur JB, Martin BM, Cummins DR, Miller WG. Characteristics of a Brucella species from a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). J Vet Diagn Invest 1994; 6:448-52. [PMID: 7858024 DOI: 10.1177/104063879400600408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A culture isolated from an aborted fetus of a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was characterized. The isolate was a gram-negative coccobacillus, and the colonial morphology was typical of a smooth Brucella. The isolate was positive for catalase, oxidase, nitrate reduction, and urease. Hydrogen sulfide was not produced. It grew in air at 37 C but required 72 hours for good growth. There was growth on media containing basic fuchsin, thionin, thionin blue, penicillin, and erythritol. The M antigen was dominant, and the isolate was lysed by 4 of 10 brucellaphages tested. The oxidative metabolic profile of the isolate was similar to that for B. abortus but differed in utilization of L-asparagine, L-glutamic acid, and DL-citrulline. Whole-cell lysates were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein profiles were markedly different from the protein profiles of reference strains of Brucella species. Biochemical and oxidative metabolism profiles indicated that the isolate belongs in the genus Brucella but did not match the profiles of any established species or biovars. This isolate may be an atypical strain of a recognized Brucella species or a new biovar or species of Brucella.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D R Ewalt
- US Department of Agriculture, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, IA 50010
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ewalt DR, Forbes LB. Atypical isolates of Brucella abortus from Canada and the United States characterized as dye sensitive with M antigen dominant. J Clin Microbiol 1987; 25:698-701. [PMID: 3106410 PMCID: PMC266062 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.25.4.698-701.1987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A total of 41 Brucella isolates, examined by standard biotyping procedures, were found to be similar to Brucella abortus biovar 2 in dye sensitivity but had a dominant M antigen. Oxidative metabolic tests performed on 39 of the isolates confirmed them as B. abortus. Additional biochemical and bacteriophage susceptibility studies were performed on 35 of the isolates. The isolates had identical reactions in the various tests, except for one isolate which was resistant to lysis by all phage strains used. Two isolates were injected into guinea pigs and shown to be virulent. The isolates described in this study appear similar to atypical Brucella isolates previously reported in the United Kingdom and the United States and may form the basis of a new biovar, B. abortus biovar 10.
Collapse
|
8
|
Corbel MJ. Isolation and properties of a phage lytic for non-smooth Brucella organisms. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL STANDARDIZATION 1979; 7:349-60. [PMID: 536378 DOI: 10.1016/s0092-1157(79)80009-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A phage for non-smooth cells of Brucella abortus was isolated from a mixture of three brucella-phages incubated with rough brucella cells in the presence of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. It did not lyse smooth cells of Br. abortus strains nor those of other Brucella species, but during the course of its replication in rough organisms a small proportion of phage mutants were produced which were similar in properties to smooth-specific phages. The rough-specific phage, R, itself resembled Weybridge phage in its morphological and serological properties. Phage R was found to contain DNA and segregated into high and low density fractions, both with plaque-forming activity, on ultra-centrifugation in CsSO4 gradients. Unlike the smooth-specific phages it attached to heat-labile receptors present on non-smooth brucella cells.
Collapse
|
9
|
Hatten BA, Brodeur RD. Soluble antigens of virulent and attenuated biotypes of Brucella abortus. Infect Immun 1978; 22:956-62. [PMID: 103842 PMCID: PMC422248 DOI: 10.1128/iai.22.3.956-962.1978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several methods were used to characterize three Brucella abortus biotypes (1, 5, and 7), including the attenuated vaccine strain S-19. Chemical analysis did not reveal remarkable differences among these strains, and only minor differences were noted in elution patterns of soluble extracts subjected to column chromatography. Qualitative and quantitative differences in extract components were demonstrated, however, by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing. A distinctive difference was the presence of components in extracts from one or more of the virulent biotypes that were absent in similar preparations from the attenuated strain. In addition, one component common to all virulent strains was absent in strain S-19. Results of immunodiffusion experiments employing adsorbed and unadsorbed antisera also suggested that the quantity, quality, and surface distribution of various cellular antigens differed among the biotypes studied.
Collapse
|
10
|
McCullough NB. Chapter VI Identification of the Species and Biotypes Within the Genus Brucella. J Microbiol Methods 1978. [DOI: 10.1016/s0580-9517(08)70663-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
|
11
|
Metabolic characterization of the genus Brucella. V. Relationship of strain oxidation rate of i-erythritol to strain virulence for guinea pigs. J Bacteriol 1966; 92:584-8. [PMID: 4958773 PMCID: PMC276293 DOI: 10.1128/jb.92.3.584-588.1966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Meyer, Margaret E. (University of California, Davis). Metabolic characterization of the genus Brucella. V. Relationship of strain oxidation rate of i-erythritol to strain virulence for guinea pigs. J. Bacteriol. 92:584-588. 1966.-Strain rate of oxidation of i-erythritol and strain virulence were studied to determine whether or not the two characteristics were related within the species Brucella abortus, B. suis, and B. melitensis. The oxidation rate of i-erythritol was determined manometrically, and strain virulence was assessed by injecting groups of guinea pigs and then recording counts of organisms recovered on culture from spleens 21 and 42 days after inoculation. The range in oxidative rates characteristic of virulent strains in each species was established, and strains displaying oxidative rates representative of the full array of values within the rate ranges were virulence-tested. In addition, a mutant that was capable of oxidizing i-erythritol, obtained from a strain that did not oxidize this substrate, was assessed simultaneously to detect any alterations in virulence of the mutant. The data presented herein warrant the conclusion that strain rate of oxidation of i-erythritol is unrelated to the virulence of the strain for guinea pigs in the species B. abortus, B. suis, and B. melitensis.
Collapse
|
12
|
MEYER ME. Metabolic and bacteriophage identification of Brucella strains described as Brucella melitensis from cattle. Bull World Health Organ 1962; 26:829-31. [PMID: 14473151 PMCID: PMC2555753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
|
13
|
MEYER ME, MORGAN WJ. Metabolic characterization of Brucella strains that show conflicting identity by biochemical and serological methods. Bull World Health Organ 1962; 26:823-7. [PMID: 14473150 PMCID: PMC2555748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Each of 87 strains of brucellae examined for its utilization of amino acid and carbohydrate substrates displayed a metabolic pattern that characterized it as to its species identity, irrespective of its serological and biochemical characters. Strains that displayed the metabolic pattern of Br. abortus were lysed by Brucella bacteriophage type abortus strain 3. Strains that displayed the metabolic pattern of Br. melitensis were not lysed by this phage.On this basis of identification, it is shown that there occur strains of Br. abortus that do not produce hydrogen sulfide, do not require carbon dioxide and are thionin-resistant, thereby duplicating the features generally regarded as characteristic of Br. melitensis. They can be identified by their metabolism and phage susceptibility. The distribution of Br. abortus and Br. melitensis antigens, as measured by agglutination with monospecific antisera, is also not always related to other species-identifying characteristics. Therefore, neither the serological method nor the biochemical method can be considered a reliable guide to the identification of Brucella species.
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Meyer, Margaret
E. (University of California, Davis). Metabolic characterization of the genus
Brucella
. III. Oxidative metabolism of strains that show anomalous characteristics by conventional determinative methods. J. Bacteriol.
82:
401–410. 1961.—The oxidative metabolic patterns were determined on 83 strains of brucellae that had been described as “atypical” because they differed in one or more characteristics or because they had been isolated from an abnormal host (other than the natural reservoir for that species).
Of the 83 strains examined, 44 displayed the metabolic pattern for
Brucella melitensis
. A comparison was then made between the results of identifying these strains metabolically and by the conventional methods. It was found that a few strains of
B. melitensis
showed a decreased tolerance to basic fuchsin and thionin, but none of the strains that was identified metabolically as
B. melitensis
produced H
2
S or required CO
2
. No biotypes have been reported for this species, since only slight quantitative variation in dye tolerances occurs among strains of
B. melitensis
, and no metabolic variants were found. It is concluded that
B. melitensis
is a homogenous species and can be identified with certainty by its oxidative metabolic pattern, irrespective of its host or geographic source.
Of the remaining strains, 38 displayed the metabolic pattern singular for
Brucella abortus
. Evidence was presented to support the conclusion that in this species the characteristics of dye tolerance, H
2
S production, and CO
2
required for initial growth vary independently of each other, and strains that differ from the species description by these criteria can be identified correctly by their oxidative metabolic pattern.
Of the 83 atypical strains examined, 24 were strains of
Brucella
described as a new species,
Brucella intermedia
(Renoux). Of these 24 strains, 10 were identified as
Brucella melitensis
, 13 as
Brucella abortus
, and one as
Brucella suis
. Evidence was presented to support the conclusion that
B. intermedia
(Renoux) cannot be considered as a new species.
Collapse
|