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ATTIA EL HILI H, MAATOUK K. [Zoonotic potential of brucellosis in marine mammals]. MEDECINE TROPICALE ET SANTE INTERNATIONALE 2024; 4:mtsi.v4i1.2024.489. [PMID: 38846127 PMCID: PMC11151931 DOI: 10.48327/mtsi.v4i1.2024.489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Brucellosis in marine mammals (cetacean and pinnipeds) has emerged in a very significant way during the last two decades. Currently Brucella ceti and Brucella pinnipedialis are the two recognized species in marine mammals, but available information is still limited. Several genotypes have been identified, and studies on the relationship between sequence type (ST) and organ pathogenicity or tropism have indicated differences in pathogenesis between B. ceti sequences in cetaceans. The zoonotic potential of this disease is based on the identification of the main sources of introduction and spread of Brucella spp. in the marine environment as well as on the factors of exposure of marine mammals and humans to the bacteria. Bibliographic review This article is a bibliographical review on marine mammal brucellosis, including the features, sources and transmission modes of each Brucella species, as well as their potential pathogenicity in animals and humans. Conclusion Different genotypes of marine Brucella spp have been isolated from marine mammal species but without any evidence of pathology induced by these bacteria. Associated lesions are variable and include subcutaneous abscesses, meningo-encephalomyelitis, pneumonia, myocarditis, osteoarthritis, orchitis, endometritis, placentitis and abortion. The isolation of marine B. spp from marine mammal respiratory parasites associated to lung injury has raised the intriguing possibility that they may serve as a vector for the transmission of this bacterium.The severity of marine B. spp remains unknown due to the lack of an estimate of the prevalence of this disease in marine mammals. The number of suspected human cases is still very limited. However, by analogy with other germs of the genus Brucella responsible for abortion in ruminants and for a febrile and painful state in human beings, prevention measures are essential. The significant increase in the number of strandings coupled with a high seroprevalence in certain species of marine mammals must be considered for people in direct or indirect contact with these animals. Ongoing epidemiological monitoring combined with extensive post-mortem examinations (necropsy, bacteriology and sequencing) of all species of stranded marine mammals would deepen knowledge on the zoonotic potential of marine Brucella species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kaouthar MAATOUK
- Institut national des sciences et technologies de la mer, Monastir, Tunisie
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2
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Anbazhagan S, Himani KM, Karthikeyan R, Prakasan L, Dinesh M, Nair SS, Lalsiamthara J, Abhishek, Ramachandra SG, Chaturvedi VK, Chaudhuri P, Thomas P. Comparative genomics of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis unravels the gene sharing, virulence factors and SNP diversity among the standard, vaccine and field strains. Int Microbiol 2024; 27:101-111. [PMID: 37202587 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-023-00374-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis are the primary etiological agents of brucellosis in large and small ruminants, respectively. There are limited comparative genomic studies involving Brucella strains that explore the relatedness among both species. In this study, we involved strains (n=44) representing standard, vaccine and Indian field origin for pangenome, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and phylogenetic analysis. Both species shared a common gene pool representing 2884 genes out of a total 3244 genes. SNP-based phylogenetic analysis indicated higher SNP diversity among B. melitensis (3824) strains in comparison to B. abortus (540) strains, and a clear demarcation was identified between standard/vaccine and field strains. The analysis for virulence genes revealed that virB3, virB7, ricA, virB5, ipx5, wbkC, wbkB, and acpXL genes were highly conserved in most of the Brucella strains. Interestingly, virB10 gene was found to have high variability among the B. abortus strains. The cgMLST analysis revealed distinct sequence types for the standard/vaccine and field strains. B. abortus strains from north-eastern India fall within similar sequence type differing from other strains. In conclusion, the analysis revealed a highly shared core genome among two Brucella species. SNP analysis revealed B. melitensis strains exhibit high diversity as compared to B. abortus strains. Strains with absence or high polymorphism of virulence genes can be exploited for the development of novel vaccine candidates effective against both B. abortus and B. melitensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Anbazhagan
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
- ICMR-National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, Hyderabad, India
| | - K M Himani
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - R Karthikeyan
- Division of Epidemiology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - Lakshmi Prakasan
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - M Dinesh
- Division of Pathology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - Sonu S Nair
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - Jonathan Lalsiamthara
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, SOM, OHSU, Portland, OR, US, 97239, USA
| | - Abhishek
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - S G Ramachandra
- ICMR-National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, Hyderabad, India
| | - V K Chaturvedi
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - Pallab Chaudhuri
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India.
| | - Prasad Thomas
- Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India.
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Hao M, Wang M, Zhao D, Shi Y, Yuan Y, Li J, Zhai Y, Liu X, Zhou D, Chen H, Lin P, Tang K, Liu W, Jin Y, Wang A. Alr Gene in Brucella suis S2: Its Role in Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthesis and Bacterial Virulence in RAW264.7. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10744. [PMID: 37445922 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucella suis, the causative agent of brucellosis, poses a significant public health and animal husbandry threat. However, the role of the alanine racemase (alr) gene, which encodes alanine racemase in Brucella, remains unclear. Here, we analyzed an alr deletion mutant and a complemented strain of Brucella suis S2. The knockout strain displayed an unaltered, smooth phenotype in acriflavine agglutination tests but lacked the core polysaccharide portion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Genes involved in the LPS synthesis were significantly upregulated in the deletion mutant. The alr deletion strain exhibited reduced intracellular viability in the macrophages, increased macrophage-mediated killing, and upregulation of the apoptosis markers. Bcl2, an anti-apoptotic protein, was downregulated, while the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3, were upregulated in the macrophages infected with the deletion strain. The infected macrophages showed increased mitochondrial membrane permeability, Cytochrome C release, and reactive oxygen species, activating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. These findings revealed that alanine racemase was dispensable in B. suis S2 but influenced the strain's rough features and triggered the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway during macrophage invasion. The deletion of the alr gene reduced the intracellular survival and virulence. This study enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying Brucella's survival and virulence and, specifically, how alr gene affects host immune evasion by regulating bacterial LPS biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Hao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Minghui Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Danyu Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yong Shi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Ye Yuan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Junmei Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yunyi Zhai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Xiaofang Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Dong Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Huatao Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Pengfei Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Keqiong Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yaping Jin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Aihua Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling District, Xianyang 712100, China
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Zhang G, Dong H, Feng Y, Jiang H, Wu T, Sun J, Wang X, Liu M, Peng X, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Zhu L, Ding J, Shen X. The Pseudogene BMEA_B0173 Deficiency in Brucella melitensis Contributes to M-epitope Formation and Potentiates Virulence in a Mice Infection Model. Curr Microbiol 2022; 79:378. [DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-03078-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Muñoz PM, Conde-Álvarez R, Andrés-Barranco S, de Miguel MJ, Zúñiga-Ripa A, Aragón-Aranda B, Salvador-Bescós M, Martínez-Gómez E, Iriarte M, Barberán M, Vizcaíno N, Moriyón I, Blasco JM. A Brucella melitensis H38ΔwbkF rough mutant protects against Brucella ovis in rams. Vet Res 2022; 53:16. [PMID: 35236406 PMCID: PMC8889640 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-022-01034-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucella melitensis and Brucella ovis are gram-negative pathogens of sheep that cause severe economic losses and, although B. ovis is non-zoonotic, B. melitensis is the main cause of human brucellosis. B. melitensis carries a smooth (S) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with an N-formyl-perosamine O-polysaccharide (O-PS) that is absent in the rough LPS of B. ovis. Their control and eradication require vaccination, but B. melitensis Rev 1, the only vaccine available, triggers anti-O-PS antibodies that interfere in the S-brucellae serodiagnosis. Since eradication and serological surveillance of the zoonotic species are priorities, Rev 1 is banned once B. melitensis is eradicated or where it never existed, hampering B. ovis control and eradication. To develop a B. ovis specific vaccine, we investigated three Brucella live vaccine candidates lacking N-formyl-perosamine O-PS: Bov::CAΔwadB (CO2-independent B. ovis with truncated LPS core oligosaccharide); Rev1::wbdRΔwbkC (carrying N-acetylated O-PS); and H38ΔwbkF (B. melitensis rough mutant with intact LPS core). After confirming their attenuation and protection against B. ovis in mice, were tested in rams for efficacy. H38ΔwbkF yielded similar protection to Rev 1 against B. ovis but Bov::CAΔwadB and Rev1::wbdRΔwbkC conferred no or poor protection, respectively. All H38ΔwbkF vaccinated rams developed a protracted antibody response in ELISA and immunoprecipitation B. ovis diagnostic tests. In contrast, all remained negative in Rose Bengal and complement fixation tests used routinely for B. melitensis diagnosis, though some became positive in S-LPS ELISA owing to LPS core epitope reactivity. Thus, H38ΔwbkF is an interesting candidate for the immunoprophylaxis of B. ovis in B. melitensis-free areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar M Muñoz
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Raquel Conde-Álvarez
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Sara Andrés-Barranco
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María-Jesús de Miguel
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Amaia Zúñiga-Ripa
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Aragón-Aranda
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Miriam Salvador-Bescós
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Estrella Martínez-Gómez
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Otology and Neurotology Group CTS495, Department of Genomic Medicine, GENYO Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada-Junta de Andalucía, Granada, Spain
| | - Maite Iriarte
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Nieves Vizcaíno
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ignacio Moriyón
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - José M Blasco
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Zaragoza, Spain
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6
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Stranahan LW, Arenas-Gamboa AM. When the Going Gets Rough: The Significance of Brucella Lipopolysaccharide Phenotype in Host-Pathogen Interactions. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:713157. [PMID: 34335551 PMCID: PMC8319746 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.713157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucella is a facultatively intracellular bacterial pathogen and the cause of worldwide zoonotic infections, infamous for its ability to evade the immune system and persist chronically within host cells. Despite the frequent association with attenuation in other Gram-negative bacteria, a rough lipopolysaccharide phenotype is retained by Brucella canis and Brucella ovis, which remain fully virulent in their natural canine and ovine hosts, respectively. While these natural rough strains lack the O-polysaccharide they, like their smooth counterparts, are able to evade and manipulate the host immune system by exhibiting low endotoxic activity, resisting destruction by complement and antimicrobial peptides, entering and trafficking within host cells along a similar pathway, and interfering with MHC-II antigen presentation. B. canis and B. ovis appear to have compensated for their roughness by alterations to their outer membrane, especially in regards to outer membrane proteins. B. canis, in particular, also shows evidence of being less proinflammatory in vivo, suggesting that the rough phenotype may be associated with an enhanced level of stealth that could allow these pathogens to persist for longer periods of time undetected. Nevertheless, much additional work is required to understand the correlates of immune protection against the natural rough Brucella spp., a critical step toward development of much-needed vaccines. This review will highlight the significance of rough lipopolysaccharide in the context of both natural disease and host–pathogen interactions with an emphasis on natural rough Brucella spp. and the implications for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren W Stranahan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Angela M Arenas-Gamboa
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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Jiao H, Zhou Z, Li B, Xiao Y, Li M, Zeng H, Guo X, Gu G. The Mechanism of Facultative Intracellular Parasitism of Brucella. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073673. [PMID: 33916050 PMCID: PMC8036852 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is a highly prevalent zoonotic disease characterized by abortion and reproductive dysfunction in pregnant animals. Although the mortality rate of Brucellosis is low, it is harmful to human health, and also seriously affects the development of animal husbandry, tourism and international trade. Brucellosis is caused by Brucella, which is a facultative intracellular parasitic bacteria. It mainly forms Brucella-containing vacuoles (BCV) in the host cell to avoid the combination with lysosome (Lys), so as to avoid the elimination of it by the host immune system. Brucella not only has the ability to resist the phagocytic bactericidal effect, but also can make the host cells form a microenvironment which is conducive to its survival, reproduction and replication, and survive in the host cells for a long time, which eventually leads to the formation of chronic persistent infection. Brucella can proliferate and replicate in cells, evade host immune response and induce persistent infection, which are difficult problems in the treatment and prevention of Brucellosis. Therefore, the paper provides a preliminary overview of the facultative intracellular parasitic and immune escape mechanisms of Brucella, which provides a theoretical basis for the later study on the pathogenesis of Brucella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanwei Jiao
- Immunology Research Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (Z.Z.); (B.L.); (Y.X.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (X.G.); (G.G.)
- Veterinary Scientific Engineering Research Center, Chongqing 402460, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Zhixiong Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (Z.Z.); (B.L.); (Y.X.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (X.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Bowen Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (Z.Z.); (B.L.); (Y.X.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (X.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Yu Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (Z.Z.); (B.L.); (Y.X.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (X.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Mengjuan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (Z.Z.); (B.L.); (Y.X.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (X.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Hui Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (Z.Z.); (B.L.); (Y.X.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (X.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Xiaoyi Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (Z.Z.); (B.L.); (Y.X.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (X.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Guojing Gu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; (Z.Z.); (B.L.); (Y.X.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (X.G.); (G.G.)
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Roop RM, Barton IS, Hopersberger D, Martin DW. Uncovering the Hidden Credentials of Brucella Virulence. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2021; 85:e00021-19. [PMID: 33568459 PMCID: PMC8549849 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00021-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria in the genus Brucella are important human and veterinary pathogens. The abortion and infertility they cause in food animals produce economic hardships in areas where the disease has not been controlled, and human brucellosis is one of the world's most common zoonoses. Brucella strains have also been isolated from wildlife, but we know much less about the pathobiology and epidemiology of these infections than we do about brucellosis in domestic animals. The brucellae maintain predominantly an intracellular lifestyle in their mammalian hosts, and their ability to subvert the host immune response and survive and replicate in macrophages and placental trophoblasts underlies their success as pathogens. We are just beginning to understand how these bacteria evolved from a progenitor alphaproteobacterium with an environmental niche and diverged to become highly host-adapted and host-specific pathogens. Two important virulence determinants played critical roles in this evolution: (i) a type IV secretion system that secretes effector molecules into the host cell cytoplasm that direct the intracellular trafficking of the brucellae and modulate host immune responses and (ii) a lipopolysaccharide moiety which poorly stimulates host inflammatory responses. This review highlights what we presently know about how these and other virulence determinants contribute to Brucella pathogenesis. Gaining a better understanding of how the brucellae produce disease will provide us with information that can be used to design better strategies for preventing brucellosis in animals and for preventing and treating this disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Martin Roop
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ian S Barton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dariel Hopersberger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel W Martin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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Comparative proteomic analysis of outer membrane vesicles from Brucella suis, Brucella ovis, Brucella canis and Brucella neotomae. Arch Microbiol 2021; 203:1611-1626. [PMID: 33432377 PMCID: PMC7799404 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-02170-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria release nanovesicles, called outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), from their outer membrane. Proteomics has been used to determine their composition. OMVs contain proteins able to elicit an immune response, so they have been proposed as a model to develop acellular vaccines. In this study, OMVs of Brucella suis, B. ovis, B. canis, and B. neotomae were purified and analyzed by SDS-PAGE, transmission electron microscopy and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry to determine the pan-proteome of these vesicles. In addition, antigenic proteins were detected by western blot with anti-Brucella sera. The in silico analysis of the pan-proteome revealed many homologous proteins, such as Omp16, Omp25, Omp31, SodC, Omp2a, and BhuA. Proteins contained in the vesicles from different Brucella species were detected by anti-Brucella sera. The occurrence of previously described immunogenic proteins derived from OMVs supports the use of these vesicles as candidates to be evaluated as an acellular brucellosis vaccine.
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Genomic Analysis of Natural Rough Brucella melitensis Rev.1 Vaccine Strains: Identification and Characterization of Mutations in Key Genes Associated with Bacterial LPS Biosynthesis and Virulence. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249341. [PMID: 33302421 PMCID: PMC7762576 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella species are facultative intracellular bacteria that cause brucellosis, a zoonotic world-wide disease. The live attenuated B. melitensis Rev.1 vaccine strain is widely used for the control of brucellosis in the small ruminant population. However, Rev.1 induces antibodies against the O-polysaccharide (O-PS) of the smooth lipopolysaccharide thus, it is difficult to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals. Hence, rough Brucella strains lacking the O-PS have been introduced. In the current study, we conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of the genome sequence of two natural Rev.1 rough strains, isolated from sheep, against that of 24 Rev.1 smooth strains and the virulent reference strain B. melitensis 16M. We identified and characterized eight vital mutations within highly important genes associated with Brucella lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis and virulence, which may explain the mechanisms underlying the formation of the Rev.1 rough phenotype and may be used to determine the mechanism underlying virulence attenuation. Further complementation studies aimed to estimate the specific role of these mutations in affecting Brucella morphology and virulence will serve as a basis for the design of new attenuated vaccines for animal immunization against brucellosis.
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11
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Isolation and Identification of Two Brucella Species from a Volcanic Lake in Mexico. Curr Microbiol 2020; 77:3565-3572. [PMID: 32897398 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-020-02184-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Brucellosis is a zoonosis caused by bacteria of the Brucella genus. Any source of contamination that could be infectious must be monitored to reduce the risk of exposure to brucellosis, so the purpose of this work was to determine the presence of Brucella spp. on surface water and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) skin from a volcanic lake in Mexico. A seasonal sampling during 2016-2017 was carried out at fifteen specific sites for water sampling and five sites for the collection of tilapia fish. From all water and fish samples tested, we found only three isolates of Brucella species. We isolated and identified B. abortus from surface water through bacteriological and molecular techniques, and B. abortus and B. suis from the same tilapia skin sample. The isolated strains likely came from breeding animals that are common to the region, such as infected pigs or cattle with Brucella abortus or B. suis, respectively. A similar finding has not been reported in a water from volcanic lake or tilapia fish in Mexico. We concluded that B. abortus and B. suis are present on the surface water of the volcanic lake and tilapia skin as possible contaminants derived from biological material from cows and pigs carrying this bacterium.
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12
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Igawe PB, Okolocha E, Kia GS, Irmiya IB, Balogun MS, Nguku P. Seroprevalence of brucellosis and associated risk factors among abattoir workers in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Pan Afr Med J 2020; 35:33. [PMID: 32537048 PMCID: PMC7247907 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.35.33.18134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Brucellosis is a reemerging and neglected zoonotic disease. It is an occupational bio-hazard and a public health problem. The objective of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis and its risk factors among abattoir workers in Bauchi state. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the three senatorial district abattoirs of Bauchi State. Abattoir workers (n=284) were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected using an adapted questionnaire. Serum samples collected, were screened for brucellosis with Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), tested with Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Seropositive participants were positive for both RBPT and ELISA. Data were described in proportions and analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results Participants were all male, age range: 18-70 years (mean 35 ±13 years). Ninety-five participants were seropositive (seroprevalence 33.5%) after laboratory testing. Following bivariate analysis, using personal protective equipment (PPE) [OR: 0.5 CI95%=0.3>OR: 0.5 CI95%=0.3-0.9] was significantly protective against brucellosis. Slaughtering of animals (OR: 2.19 CI95%= 1.2-3.7), assisting in animal parturition (OR: 2.25 CI95%= 1.3-3.7), working with an open cut/wound (OR:2.1 CI95%= 1.1-3.9) and eating while working in the abattoir [OR:2.4 CI95%= 1.1>OR:2.4 CI95%= 1.1-4.9] were risks of brucellosis. Multivariate analysis showed that slaughtering of animals: Adjusted Odds-Ratio (AOR) = 1.92; CI95% = 1.03 - 3.59) and assisting in animal parturition (AOR = 2.43; CI95% = 1.40 - 4.23) remained significantly associated with brucellosis. Conclusion Seroprevalence of brucellosis among abattoir workers in Bauchi state is high. Workers should use PPEs and animal parturitions should be handled by trained personnel alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Bobu Igawe
- Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel Okolocha
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Grace Sabo Kia
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Istifanus Bugun Irmiya
- Department of Epidemiology, Bauchi State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural resources, Bauchi, Nigeria
| | | | - Patrick Nguku
- Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP), Abuja, Nigeria
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13
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Ohishi K, Amano M, Nakamatsu K, Miyazaki N, Tajima Y, Yamada TK, Matsuda A, Ochiai M, Matsuishi TF, Taru H, Iwao H, Maruyama T. Serologic survey of Brucella infection in cetaceans inhabiting along the coast of Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2019; 82:43-46. [PMID: 31748439 PMCID: PMC6983672 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.19-0481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A serologic investigation of Brucella infection was performed in 7 species of cetaceans inhabiting along the coast of Japan. A total of 32 serum samples were examined by
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Brucella abortus and B. canis antigens. One serum sample from five melon-headed whales
(Peponocephala electra) was positive for B. abortus. No serum sample showed positive for B. canis. The ELISA-positive melon-headed whale
serum demonstrated a strong band appearance only against B. abortus antigens in Western blot analysis. Many detected bands were discrete, while some of them had a smeared
appearance. The present results indicate that Brucella infection occurred in melon-headed whale population and the bacterial antigenicity is more similar to that of
B. abortus than B. canis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazue Ohishi
- Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Polytechnic University, 1583 Iiyama, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0297, Japan
| | - Masao Amano
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - Ken Nakamatsu
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Miyazaki
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan
| | - Yuko Tajima
- National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0005, Japan
| | - Tadasu K Yamada
- National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0005, Japan
| | - Ayaka Matsuda
- Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan
| | - Mari Ochiai
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Takashi F Matsuishi
- Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan.,Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8611, Japan
| | - Hajime Taru
- Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History, 499 Iryuda, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0031, Japan
| | - Hajime Iwao
- Niigata City Aquarium, 5932-445 Nishifunami, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Niigata 951-8101, Japan
| | - Tadashi Maruyama
- School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitazato, Minami, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
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14
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Nayeri Fasaei B, Naserli S, Zahraei Salehi T, Saeedinia A, Behroozikhah A, Ashrafi Tamai I. New Brucella abortus S19 Mutant to Improve Distinction Between Infected and Vaccinated Animals. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 17:e2159. [PMID: 32195284 PMCID: PMC7080968 DOI: 10.29252/ijb.2159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Background Using Brucella abortus Strain 19 (S19) to control bovine brucellosis is restricted due to induce antibodies to the O-side chain of the smooth lipopolysaccharide (LPS) which may be difficult to differentiate vaccinated and infected animals. Furthermore, it is virulent for humans and can induce abortion to cattle. Objectives The aim of this study was to employ gene knockout B. abortus S19 for the first time to eliminate diagnostic defects and obtain the attenuated mutant strain. Material and Methods The wbkA gene, which is one of the LPS O-chain coding genes, was knocked out in vaccinal Brucella abortus S19. The proliferative response and immunoglobulin M production were analyzed in wbkA deletion strain-infected BALB/c mice. Results The loss of wbkA gene function resulted in induction of the splenocyte proliferative response in mice infected by the mutant S19 strain compare to those induced by parental S19 and RB51 strains. Moreover, wbkA mutant did not induce any IgM antibody response using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Conclusions As a result, the new mutant S19 strain had deficiency in its LPS O-chain structure, besides cannot induce IgM response then, reduce mistakes to discriminate between vaccinated and infected animal, and also can be considered as a new vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Nayeri Fasaei
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soulmaz Naserli
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Taghi Zahraei Salehi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Saeedinia
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Malek-Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alimohammad Behroozikhah
- Department of Brucellosis, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Iradj Ashrafi Tamai
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Li XM, Kang YX, Lin L, Jia EH, Piao DR, Jiang H, Zhang CC, He J, Chang YF, Guo XK, Zhu Y. Genomic Characterization Provides New Insights for Detailed Phage- Resistant Mechanism for Brucella abortus. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:917. [PMID: 31130926 PMCID: PMC6510165 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
As the causative agent of cattle brucellosis, Brucella abortus commonly exhibits smooth phenotype (by virtue of colony morphology) that is characteristically sensitive to specific Brucella phages, playing until recently a major role in taxonomical classification of the Brucella species by the phage typing approach. We previously reported the discrepancy between traditional phenotypic typing and MLVA results of a smooth phage-resistant (SPR) strain Bab8416 isolated from a 45-year-old custodial worker with brucellosis in a cattle farm. Here, we performed whole genome sequencing and further obtained a complete genome sequence of strain Bab8416 by a combination of multiple NGS technologies and routine PCR sequencing. The detailed genetic differences between B. abortus SPR Bab8416 and large smooth phage-sensitive (SPS) strains were investigated in a comprehensively comparative genomic study. The large indels between B. abortus SPS strains and Bab8416 showed possible divergence between two evolutionary branches at a far phylogenetic node. Compared to B. abortus SPS strain 9-941 (Bab9-941), the specific re-arrangement event in Bab8416 displaying a closer linear relationship with B. melitensis 16M than other B. abortus strains resulted in the truncation of c-di-GMP synthesis, and 3 c-di-GMP-metabolizing genes, were present in Bab8416 and B. melitensis 16M, but absent in Bab9-941 and other B. abortus strains, indicating potential SPR-associated key determinants and novel molecular mechanisms. Moreover, despite almost completely intact smooth LPS related genes, only one mutated OmpA family protein of Bab8416, functionally related to flagellar and efflux pump, was newly identified. Several point mutations were identified to be Bab8416 specific while a majority of them were verified to be B. abortus ST2 characteristic. In conclusion, our study therefore identifies new SPR-associated factors that could play a role in refining and updating Brucella taxonomic schemes and provides resources for further detailed analysis of mechanism for Brucella phage resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Ming Li
- Stake Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yao-Xia Kang
- Baotou Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Baotou, China
| | - Liang Lin
- Baotou Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Baotou, China
| | - En-Hou Jia
- Baotou Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Baotou, China
| | - Dong-Ri Piao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Hai Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Cui-Cai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Collaborative Innovation Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jin He
- Stake Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yung-Fu Chang
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Xiao-Kui Guo
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Institutes of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - YongZhang Zhu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Institutes of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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16
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Kauffman LK, Petersen CA. Canine Brucellosis: Old Foe and Reemerging Scourge. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2019; 49:763-779. [PMID: 30961996 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The genus Brucella is a primary cause of reproductive diseases. Widely known as a problem in livestock, Brucella is gaining notoriety as a cause of canine reproductive disease and as a scourge to dog breeders. Only within the last few decades has the risk of severe brucellosis in dogs, and the people who own and work with them, been more fully appreciated. This review summarizes the epidemiology, clinical signs, and advances in diagnosis and management of Brucella canis. Canine brucellosis prevention, owner education, and possible therapies for the future are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine A Petersen
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 North Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Iowa Research Park, Coralville, IA 52241, USA.
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17
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Dabral N, Burcham GN, Jain-Gupta N, Sriranganathan N, Vemulapalli R. Overexpression of wbkF gene in Brucella abortus RB51WboA leads to increased O-polysaccharide expression and enhanced vaccine efficacy against B. abortus 2308, B. melitensis 16M, and B. suis 1330 in a murine brucellosis model. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213587. [PMID: 30856219 PMCID: PMC6411116 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella abortus RB51 is an attenuated, stable, spontaneous rough mutant derived in the laboratory from the virulent strain B. abortus 2308. Previous studies discovered that the wboA gene, which encodes a glycosyltransferase required for synthesis of the O-polysaccharide, is disrupted in strain RB51 by an IS711 element. However, complementation of strain RB51 with a functional wboA gene (strain RB51WboA) does not confer it a smooth phenotype but results in low levels of cytoplasmic O-polysaccharide synthesis. In this study, we asked if increasing the potential availability of bactoprenol priming precursors in strain RB51WboA would increase the levels of O-polysaccharide synthesis and enhance the protective efficacy against virulent Brucella challenge. To achieve this, we overexpressed the wbkF gene, which encodes a putative undecaprenyl-glycosyltransferase involved in bactoprenol priming for O-polysaccharide polymerization, in strain RB51WboA to generate strain RB51WboAKF. In comparison to strain RB51WboA, strain RB51WboAKF expressed higher levels of O-polysaccharide, but was still attenuated and remained phenotypically rough. Mice immunized with strain RB51WboAKF developed increased levels of smooth LPS-specific serum antibodies, primarily of IgG2a and IgG3 isotype. Splenocytes from mice vaccinated with strain RB51WboAKF secreted higher levels of antigen-specific IFN-γ and TNF-α and contained more numbers of antigen-specific IFN-γ secreting CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes when compared to those of the RB51 or RB51WboA vaccinated groups. Immunization with strain RB51WboAKF conferred enhanced protection against virulent B. abortus 2308, B. melitensis 16M and B. suis 1330 challenge when compared to the currently used vaccine strains. Our results suggest that strain RB51WboAKF has the potential to be a more efficacious vaccine than its parent strain in natural hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Dabral
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Grant N. Burcham
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Neeta Jain-Gupta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Nammalwar Sriranganathan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Ramesh Vemulapalli
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Herrou J, Willett JW, Fiebig A, Varesio LM, Czyż DM, Cheng JX, Ultee E, Briegel A, Bigelow L, Babnigg G, Kim Y, Crosson S. Periplasmic protein EipA determines envelope stress resistance and virulence in Brucella abortus. Mol Microbiol 2019; 111:637-661. [PMID: 30536925 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Molecular components of the Brucella abortus cell envelope play a major role in its ability to infect, colonize and survive inside mammalian host cells. In this study, we have defined a role for a conserved gene of unknown function in B. abortus envelope stress resistance and infection. Expression of this gene, which we name eipA, is directly activated by the essential cell cycle regulator, CtrA. eipA encodes a soluble periplasmic protein that adopts an unusual eight-stranded β-barrel fold. Deletion of eipA attenuates replication and survival in macrophage and mouse infection models, and results in sensitivity to treatments that compromise the cell envelope integrity. Transposon disruption of genes required for LPS O-polysaccharide biosynthesis is synthetically lethal with eipA deletion. This genetic connection between O-polysaccharide and eipA is corroborated by our discovery that eipA is essential in Brucella ovis, a naturally rough species that harbors mutations in several genes required for O-polysaccharide production. Conditional depletion of eipA expression in B. ovis results in a cell chaining phenotype, providing evidence that eipA directly or indirectly influences cell division in Brucella. We conclude that EipA is a molecular determinant of Brucella virulence that functions to maintain cell envelope integrity and influences cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Herrou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jonathan W Willett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aretha Fiebig
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lydia M Varesio
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Daniel M Czyż
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jason X Cheng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Eveline Ultee
- Department of Biology, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ariane Briegel
- Department of Biology, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Lance Bigelow
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Gyorgy Babnigg
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Youngchang Kim
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Sean Crosson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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19
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Ohishi K, Abe E, Amano M, Miyazaki N, Boltunov A, Katsumata E, Maruyama T. Detection of serum antibodies to Brucella in Russian aquatic mammals. J Vet Med Sci 2018; 80:1696-1701. [PMID: 30185724 PMCID: PMC6261826 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.18-0330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A serologic survey of Brucella infection was performed in Caspian seals (Pusa caspica, n=71), Baikal seals (P. sibirica, n=7), ringed seals (P. hispida hispida, n=6), and beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas, n=4) inhabiting Russian waters, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Brucella abortus and B. canis as antigens. The sera of 4 Caspian seals (4%) tested positive for B. abortus. The same sera samples demonstrated weaker yet detectable affinity for B. canis antigens. Several discrete bands against B. abortus and B. canis antigens were detected on Western blot analysis of the ELISA-positive seal sera; the bands against B. canis were weaker than those against B. abortus. The sera of 3 beluga whales (75%) were positive for B. abortus antigens but showed no binding to B. canis antigens in the ELISA. The positive whale sera showed a strong band appearance only against B. abortus antigens in the Western blot analysis. Many detected bands were discrete, while some of them had a smeared appearance. The present results indicate that Brucella infection occurred in Caspian seals and beluga whales inhabiting Russian waters, and that the Brucella strains infecting the seals and the whales were antigenetically distinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazue Ohishi
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
| | - Erika Abe
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
| | - Masao Amano
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Miyazaki
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan.,Japan Marine Science Foundation, 1-1-1 Ikenohata, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0008, Japan
| | - Andrei Boltunov
- Marine Mammal Research and Expedition Center, Moscow 115551, Russia
| | | | - Tadashi Maruyama
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
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20
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[Characterization of the genetic variability of field strains of Brucella canis isolated in Antioquia]. Rev Argent Microbiol 2017; 50:255-263. [PMID: 29277251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 07/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella canis is a facultative intracellular pathogen responsible for canine brucellosis, a zoonotic disease that affects canines, causing abortions and reproductive failure; and the production of non-specific symptoms in humans. In 2005 the presence of B. canis in Antioquia was demonstrated and the strains were identified as type 2. The sequencing of the genome of a field strain denoted Brucella canis str. Oliveri, showed species-specific indel events, which led us to investigate the genomic characteristics of the B. canis strain isolated and to establish the phylogenetic relationships and the divergence time of B. canis str. Oliveri. Conventional PCR sequencing was performed in 30 field strains identifying 5 indel events recognized in B. canis str. Oliveri. ADN from Brucella suis, Brucella melitensis and vaccine strains from Brucella abortus were used as control, and it was determined that all of the studied field strains shared 4 out of the 5 indels of the sequenced Oliveri strain, indicating the presence of more than one strain circulating in the region. Phylogenetic analysis was performed with 24 strains of Brucella using concatenated sequences of genetic markers for species differentiation. The molecular clock hypothesis and Tajima's relative rate test were tested, showing that the Oliveri strain, similarly to other canis species, diverged from B. suis. The molecular clock hypothesis between Brucella species was rejected and an evolution rate and a similar genetic distance between the B. canis were demonstrated.
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Abe E, Ohishi K, Ishinazaka T, Fujii K, Maruyama T. Serologic evidence ofBrucellainfection in pinnipeds along the coast of Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of Japan. Microbiol Immunol 2017; 61:114-122. [DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Abe
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology; 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka Kanagawa 237-0061
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology; 4-5-7 Kounan, Minato-ku Tokyo 108-8477
| | - Kazue Ohishi
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology; 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka Kanagawa 237-0061
| | | | - Kei Fujii
- Pinniped Research Group; 1-69-9, Nakayoshino Tokushima, 770-0804 Japan
| | - Tadashi Maruyama
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology; 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka Kanagawa 237-0061
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Ohishi K, Bando T, Abe E, Kawai Y, Fujise Y, Maruyama T. Long-term and large-scale epidemiology of Brucella infection in baleen whales and sperm whales in the western North Pacific and Antarctic Oceans. J Vet Med Sci 2016; 78:1457-1464. [PMID: 27320816 PMCID: PMC5059373 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.16-0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In a long-term, large-scale serologic study in the western North Pacific Ocean, anti-Brucella antibodies were detected in common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the 1994-2010 offshore surveys (21%, 285/1353) and in the 2006-2010 Japanese coastal surveys (20%, 86/436), in Bryde's whales (B. edeni brydei) in the 2000-2010 offshore surveys (9%, 49/542), in sei whales (B. borealis) in the 2002-2010 offshore surveys (5%, 40/788) and in sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the 2000-2010 offshore surveys (8%, 4/50). Anti-Brucella antibodies were not detected in 739 Antarctic minke whales (B. bonaerensis) in the 2000-2010 Antarctic surveys. This suggests that Brucella was present in the four large whale populations inhabiting the western North Pacific, but not in the Antarctic minke whale population. By PCR targeting for genes of outer membrane protein 2, the Brucella infection was confirmed in tissue DNA samples from Bryde's whales (14%, 2/14), sei whales (11%, 1/9) and sperm whales (50%, 2/4). A placental tissue and an apparently healthy fetus from a sperm whale were found to be PCR-positive, indicating that placental transmission might have occurred and the newborn could act as a bacterial reservoir. Marked granulomatous testes were observed only in mature animals of the three species of baleen whales in the western North Pacific offshore surveys, especially in common minke whales, and 29% (307/1064) of total mature males had abnormal testes. This study provides an insight into the status of marine Brucella infection at a global level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazue Ohishi
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061 Japan
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Fontana C, Conde-Álvarez R, Ståhle J, Holst O, Iriarte M, Zhao Y, Arce-Gorvel V, Hanniffy S, Gorvel JP, Moriyón I, Widmalm G. Structural Studies of Lipopolysaccharide-defective Mutants from Brucella melitensis Identify a Core Oligosaccharide Critical in Virulence. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:7727-41. [PMID: 26867577 PMCID: PMC4817197 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.701540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The structures of the lipooligosaccharides from Brucella melitensis mutants affected in the WbkD and ManBcore proteins have been fully characterized using NMR spectroscopy. The results revealed that disruption of wbkD gives rise to a rough lipopolysaccharide (R-LPS) with a complete core structure (β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-α-Kdop-(2→4)[β-d-GlcpN-(1→6)-β-d-GlcpN-(1→4)[β-d-GlcpN-(1→6)]-β-d-GlcpN-(1→3)-α-d-Manp-(1→5)]-α-Kdop-(2→6)-β-d-GlcpN3N4P-(1→6)-α-d-GlcpN3N1P), in addition to components lacking one of the terminal β-d-GlcpN and/or the β-d-Glcp residues (48 and 17%, respectively). These structures were identical to those of the R-LPS from B. melitensis EP, a strain simultaneously expressing both smooth and R-LPS, also studied herein. In contrast, disruption of manBcore gives rise to a deep-rough pentasaccharide core (β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-α-Kdop-(2→4)-α-Kdop-(2→6)-β-d-GlcpN3N4P-(1→6)-α-d-GlcpN3N1P) as the major component (63%), as well as a minor tetrasaccharide component lacking the terminal β-d-Glcp residue (37%). These results are in agreement with the predicted functions of the WbkD (glycosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of the O-antigen) and ManBcore proteins (phosphomannomutase involved in the biosynthesis of a mannosyl precursor needed for the biosynthesis of the core and O-antigen). We also report that deletion of B. melitensis wadC removes the core oligosaccharide branch not linked to the O-antigen causing an increase in overall negative charge of the remaining LPS inner section. This is in agreement with the mannosyltransferase role predicted for WadC and the lack of GlcpN residues in the defective core oligosaccharide. Despite carrying the O-antigen essential in B. melitensis virulence, the core deficiency in the wadC mutant structure resulted in a more efficient detection by innate immunity and attenuation, proving the role of the β-d-GlcpN-(1→6)-β-d-GlcpN-(1→4)[β-d-GlcpN-(1→6)]-β-d-GlcpN-(1→3)-α-d-Manp-(1→5) structure in virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Fontana
- From the Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Raquel Conde-Álvarez
- the Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jonas Ståhle
- From the Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Otto Holst
- the Division of Structural Biochemistry, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Priority Area Asthma and Allergy, Research Center Borstel, Airway Research Center North, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, D-23845 Borstel, Germany
| | - Maite Iriarte
- the Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Yun Zhao
- the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy Aix-Marseille University, UM2 Marseille, France
| | - Vilma Arce-Gorvel
- the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy Aix-Marseille University, UM2 Marseille, France, INSERM, U1104 Marseille, France, and CNRS, UMR7280 Marseille, France
| | - Seán Hanniffy
- the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy Aix-Marseille University, UM2 Marseille, France, INSERM, U1104 Marseille, France, and CNRS, UMR7280 Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Gorvel
- the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy Aix-Marseille University, UM2 Marseille, France, INSERM, U1104 Marseille, France, and CNRS, UMR7280 Marseille, France
| | - Ignacio Moriyón
- the Instituto de Salud Tropical, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, and Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Göran Widmalm
- From the Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden,
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Mancilla M. Smooth to Rough Dissociation in Brucella: The Missing Link to Virulence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 5:98. [PMID: 26779449 PMCID: PMC4700419 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2015.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissociation encompasses changes in a series of phenotypes: colony and cell morphology, inmunological and biochemical reactions and virulence. The concept is generally associated to the in vitro transition between smooth (S) and rough (R) colonies, a phenotypic observation in Gram-negative bacteria commonly made since the beginning of microbiology as a science. It is also well known that the loss of the O-polysaccharide, the most external lipopolysaccharide (LPS) moiety, triggers the change in the colony phenotype. Although dissociation is related to one of the most basic features used to distinguish between species, i.e., colony morphology, and, in the case of pathogens, predict their virulence behavior, it has been considered a laboratory artifact and thus did not gain further attention. However, recent insights into genetics and pathogenesis of members of Brucella, causative agents of brucellosis, have brought a new outlook on this experimental fact, suggesting that it plays a role beyond the laboratory observations. In this perspective article, the current knowledge on Brucella LPS genetics and its connection with dissociation in the frame of evolution is discussed. Latest reports support the notion that, by means of a better understanding of genetic pathways linked to R phenotype and the biological impact of this intriguing "old" phenomenon, unexpected applications can be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Mancilla
- Research and Development Department, ADL Diagnostic Chile Ltd.Puerto Montt, Chile
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Etemady A, Mohammdi M, Esmaelizad M, Alamian S, Vahedi F, Aghaeipour K, Behrozikhah AM, Faghihloo E, Afshar D, Firuzyar S, Rahimi A. Genetic characterization of the wboA gene from the predominant biovars of Brucella isolates in Iran. Electron Physician 2015; 7:1381-6. [PMID: 26516446 PMCID: PMC4623799 DOI: 10.14661/1381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Brucella spp. are gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacteria pathogens responsible for brucellosis, a zoonotic disease that can cause abortion, fetal death, and genital infections in animals and undulant fever in humans. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is known as a major virulence factor of Brucella spp. The wboA gene is capable of encoding a glycosyltransferase that appears to play a major role in LPS biosynthesis. Hence, the characterization of this gene can help in the clarification of the pathogenicity of Brucella spp. METHODS This study was carried out at Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute in 2011. Briefly, the wboA gene in B. abortus biovar 3 and B. melitensis biovar 1, the predominant biovars in Iran, were amplified by using two pairs of specific primers. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were cloned into a thymine-adenine (TA) cloning vector and transformed into an E. coli DH5α before being sequenced. Multiple alignments of identified sequences were performed, with all wboA sequences deposited in the GenBank sequence database. RESULTS This study showed that a mismatch has occurred in B. melitensis biovar 1; this biovar is predominant in Iran. In contrast, the wboA gene from B. abortus biovar 3 was similar to that of other B. abortus variations. CONCLUSION The comparison and alignment of the wboA gene of native Brucella strains in Iran to all wboA sequences deposited in GenBank revealed that the wboA gene has changed in the long term; hence, because of its unique nucleotide pattern, the gene can be used for specific diagnosis of B. abortus and B. canis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afshar Etemady
- Ph.D. of Medical Bacteriology, Department of Brucellosis, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mohsen Mohammdi
- Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of pharmacy, Lorestan University of Medical sciences, Khoramabad, Iran
| | - Majid Esmaelizad
- Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Saeed Alamian
- Ph.D. of Medical Bacteriology, Department of Brucellosis, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Vahedi
- Associate Professor, Department of Brucellosis, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Khosro Aghaeipour
- Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Behrozikhah
- Ph.D. of Medical Bacteriology, Department of Brucellosis, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Faghihloo
- Ph.D. of Medical Virology, Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davoud Afshar
- Ph.D. of Medical Bacteriology, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sajad Firuzyar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arian Rahimi
- M.Sc. of Microbiology, Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Brucella canis is an intracellular pathogen that induces a lower proinflammatory response than smooth zoonotic counterparts. Infect Immun 2015; 83:4861-70. [PMID: 26438796 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00995-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine brucellosis caused by Brucella canis is a disease of dogs and a zoonotic risk. B. canis harbors most of the virulence determinants defined for the genus, but its pathogenic strategy remains unclear since it has not been demonstrated that this natural rough bacterium is an intracellular pathogen. Studies of B. canis outbreaks in kennel facilities indicated that infected dogs displaying clinical signs did not present hematological alterations. A virulent B. canis strain isolated from those outbreaks readily replicated in different organs of mice for a protracted period. However, the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-12 in serum were close to background levels. Furthermore, B. canis induced lower levels of gamma interferon, less inflammation of the spleen, and a reduced number of granulomas in the liver in mice than did B. abortus. When the interaction of B. canis with cells was studied ex vivo, two patterns were observed, a predominant scattered cell-associated pattern of nonviable bacteria and an infrequent intracellular replicative pattern of viable bacteria in a perinuclear location. The second pattern, responsible for the increase in intracellular multiplication, was dependent on the type IV secretion system VirB and was seen only if the inoculum used for cell infections was in early exponential phase. Intracellular replicative B. canis followed an intracellular trafficking route undistinguishable from that of B. abortus. Although B. canis induces a lower proinflammatory response and has a stealthier replication cycle, it still displays the pathogenic properties of the genus and the ability to persist in infected organs based on the ability to multiply intracellularly.
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27
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Dabral N, Jain-Gupta N, Seleem MN, Sriranganathan N, Vemulapalli R. Overexpression of Brucella putative glycosyltransferase WbkA in B. abortus RB51 leads to production of exopolysaccharide. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2015; 5:54. [PMID: 26157707 PMCID: PMC4478442 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2015.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella spp. are Gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacteria that cause brucellosis in mammals. Brucella strains containing the O-polysaccharide in their cell wall structure exhibit a smooth phenotype whereas the strains devoid of the polysaccharide show rough phenotype. B. abortus strain RB51 is a stable rough attenuated mutant which is used as a licensed live vaccine for bovine brucellosis. Previous studies have shown that the wboA gene, which encodes a glycosyltransferase required for the synthesis of O-polysaccharide, is disrupted in B. abortus RB51 by an IS711 element. Although complementation of strain RB51 with a functional wboA gene results in O-polysaccharide synthesis in the cytoplasm, it does not result in smooth phenotype. The aim of this study was to determine if overexpression of Brucella WbkA or WbkE, two additional putative glycosyltransferases essential for O-polysaccharide synthesis, in strain RB51 would result in the O-polysaccharide synthesis and smooth phenotype. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of wbkA or wbkE gene in RB51 does not result in O-polysaccharide expression as shown by Western blotting with specific antibodies. However, wbkA, but not wbkE, overexpression leads to the development of a clumping phenotype and the production of exopolysaccharide(s) containing mannose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and N-acetylgalactosamine. Moreover, we found that the clumping recombinant strain displays increased adhesion to polystyrene plates. The recombinant strain was similar to strain RB51 in its attenuation characteristic and in its ability to induce protective immunity against virulent B. abortus challenge in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Dabral
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Neeta Jain-Gupta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Nammalwar Sriranganathan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Ramesh Vemulapalli
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Yu D, Hui Y, Zai X, Xu J, Liang L, Wang B, Yue J, Li S. Comparative genomic analysis of Brucella abortus vaccine strain 104M reveals a set of candidate genes associated with its virulence attenuation. Virulence 2015; 6:745-54. [PMID: 26039674 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1038015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Brucella abortus strain 104M, a spontaneously attenuated strain, has been used as a vaccine strain in humans against brucellosis for 6 decades in China. Despite many studies, the molecular mechanisms that cause the attenuation are still unclear. Here, we determined the whole-genome sequence of 104M and conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis against the whole genome sequences of the virulent strain, A13334, and other reference strains. This analysis revealed a highly similar genome structure between 104M and A13334. The further comparative genomic analysis between 104M and A13334 revealed a set of genes missing in 104M. Some of these genes were identified to be directly or indirectly associated with virulence. Similarly, a set of mutations in the virulence-related genes was also identified, which may be related to virulence alteration. This study provides a set of candidate genes associated with virulence attenuation in B.abortus vaccine strain 104M.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Yu
- a Beijing Institute of Biotechnology ; Beijing , PR China
| | - Yiming Hui
- b LanZhou Institute of Biological Products ; Lanzhou , PR China
| | - Xiaodong Zai
- a Beijing Institute of Biotechnology ; Beijing , PR China
| | - Junjie Xu
- a Beijing Institute of Biotechnology ; Beijing , PR China
| | - Long Liang
- a Beijing Institute of Biotechnology ; Beijing , PR China
| | - Bingxiang Wang
- b LanZhou Institute of Biological Products ; Lanzhou , PR China
| | - Junjie Yue
- a Beijing Institute of Biotechnology ; Beijing , PR China
| | - Shanhu Li
- a Beijing Institute of Biotechnology ; Beijing , PR China
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Tareb R, Bernardeau M, Horvath P, Vernoux JP. Rough and smooth morphotypes isolated from Lactobacillus farciminis CNCM I-3699 are two closely-related variants. Int J Food Microbiol 2015; 193:82-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Soler-Lloréns P, Gil-Ramírez Y, Zabalza-Baranguá A, Iriarte M, Conde-Álvarez R, Zúñiga-Ripa A, San Román B, Zygmunt MS, Vizcaíno N, Cloeckaert A, Grilló MJ, Moriyón I, López-Goñi I. Mutants in the lipopolysaccharide of Brucella ovis are attenuated and protect against B. ovis infection in mice. Vet Res 2014; 45:72. [PMID: 25029920 PMCID: PMC4107470 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-014-0072-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella spp. are Gram-negative bacteria that behave as facultative intracellular parasites of a variety of mammals. This genus includes smooth (S) and rough (R) species that carry S and R lipopolysaccharides (LPS), respectively. S-LPS is a virulence factor, and mutants affected in the S-LPS O-polysaccharide (R mutants), core oligosaccharide or both show attenuation. However, B. ovis is naturally R and is virulent in sheep. We studied the role of B. ovis LPS in virulence by mutating the orthologues of wadA, wadB and wadC, three genes known to encode LPS core glycosyltransferases in S brucellae. When mapped with antibodies to outer membrane proteins (Omps) and R-LPS, wadB and wadC mutants displayed defects in LPS structure and outer membrane topology but inactivation of wadA had little or no effect. Consistent with these observations, the wadB and wadC but not the wadA mutants were attenuated in mice. When tested as vaccines, the wadB and wadC mutants protected mice against B. ovis challenge. The results demonstrate that the LPS core is a structure essential for survival in vivo not only of S brucellae but also of a naturally R Brucella pathogenic species, and they confirm our previous hypothesis that the Brucella LPS core is a target for vaccine development. Since vaccine B. melitensis Rev 1 is S and thus interferes in serological testing for S brucellae, wadB mutant represents a candidate vaccine to be evaluated against B. ovis infection of sheep suitable for areas free of B. melitensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Soler-Lloréns
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología and Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Yolanda Gil-Ramírez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología and Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Ana Zabalza-Baranguá
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (CSIC-Universidad Pública de Navarra-Gobierno de Navarra), Pamplona, 31006, Spain
| | - Maite Iriarte
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología and Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Raquel Conde-Álvarez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología and Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Amaia Zúñiga-Ripa
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología and Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Beatriz San Román
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (CSIC-Universidad Pública de Navarra-Gobierno de Navarra), Pamplona, 31006, Spain
| | - Michel S Zygmunt
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, F-37380, France
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Tours, F-37000, France
| | - Nieves Vizcaíno
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, and Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Axel Cloeckaert
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, F-37380, France
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Tours, F-37000, France
| | - María-Jesús Grilló
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (CSIC-Universidad Pública de Navarra-Gobierno de Navarra), Pamplona, 31006, Spain
| | - Ignacio Moriyón
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología and Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Ignacio López-Goñi
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología and Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
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Wattam AR, Foster JT, Mane SP, Beckstrom-Sternberg SM, Beckstrom-Sternberg JM, Dickerman AW, Keim P, Pearson T, Shukla M, Ward DV, Williams KP, Sobral BW, Tsolis RM, Whatmore AM, O'Callaghan D. Comparative phylogenomics and evolution of the Brucellae reveal a path to virulence. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:920-30. [PMID: 24336939 PMCID: PMC3957692 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01091-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella species include important zoonotic pathogens that have a substantial impact on both agriculture and human health throughout the world. Brucellae are thought of as "stealth pathogens" that escape recognition by the host innate immune response, modulate the acquired immune response, and evade intracellular destruction. We analyzed the genome sequences of members of the family Brucellaceae to assess its evolutionary history from likely free-living soil-based progenitors into highly successful intracellular pathogens. Phylogenetic analysis split the genus into two groups: recently identified and early-dividing "atypical" strains and a highly conserved "classical" core clade containing the major pathogenic species. Lateral gene transfer events brought unique genomic regions into Brucella that differentiated them from Ochrobactrum and allowed the stepwise acquisition of virulence factors that include a type IV secretion system, a perosamine-based O antigen, and systems for sequestering metal ions that are absent in progenitors. Subsequent radiation within the core Brucella resulted in lineages that appear to have evolved within their preferred mammalian hosts, restricting their virulence to become stealth pathogens capable of causing long-term chronic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice R. Wattam
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Jeffrey T. Foster
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen Genomics Division, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - James M. Beckstrom-Sternberg
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen Genomics Division, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Allan W. Dickerman
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Paul Keim
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Pathogen Genomics Division, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Talima Pearson
- Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Maulik Shukla
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Doyle V. Ward
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kelly P. Williams
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Bruno W. Sobral
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Renee M. Tsolis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Adrian M. Whatmore
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - David O'Callaghan
- INSERM U1047, UFR Médecine, Nîmes, France
- Université Montpellier 1, UFR Médecine, Nîmes, France
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Mancilla M, Grilló MJ, de Miguel MJ, López-Goñi I, San-Román B, Zabalza-Baranguá A, Moriyón I. Deletion of the GI-2 integrase and the wbkA flanking transposase improves the stability of Brucella melitensis Rev 1 vaccine. Vet Res 2013; 44:105. [PMID: 24176078 PMCID: PMC4176087 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-44-105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella melitensis Rev 1 is the best vaccine available for the prophylaxis of small ruminant brucellosis and, indirectly, for reducing human brucellosis. However, Rev 1 shows anomalously high rates of spontaneous dissociation from smooth (S) to rough (R) bacteria, the latter being inefficacious as vaccines. This S-R instability results from the loss of the O-polysaccharide. To overcome this problem, we investigated whether some recently described mechanisms promoting mutations in O-polysaccharide genes were involved in Rev 1 S-R dissociation. We found that a proportion of Rev 1 R mutants result from genome rearrangements affecting the wbo O-polysaccharide loci of genomic island GI-2 and the wbkA O-polysaccharide glycosyltransferase gene of the wbk region. Accordingly, we mutated the GI-2 int gene and the wbk IS transposase involved in those arrangements, and found that these Rev 1 mutants maintained the S phenotype and showed lower dissociation levels. Combining these two mutations resulted in a strain (Rev 2) displaying a 95% decrease in dissociation with respect to parental Rev 1 under conditions promoting dissociation. Rev 2 did not differ from Rev 1 in the characteristics used in Rev 1 typing (growth rate, colonial size, reactivity with O-polysaccharide antibodies, phage, dye and antibiotic susceptibility). Moreover, Rev 2 and Rev 1 showed similar attenuation and afforded similar protection in the mouse model of brucellosis vaccines. We conclude that mutations targeting genes and DNA sequences involved in spontaneous O-polysaccharide loss enhance the stability of a critical vaccine phenotype and complement the empirical stabilization precautions taken during S Brucella vaccine production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Mancilla
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología e Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, C/ Irunlarrea, 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile
| | - María-Jesús Grilló
- Grupo de Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (CSIC-Universidad Pública de Navarra-Gobierno de Navarra), Campus de Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
| | - María-Jesús de Miguel
- Unidad de Sanidad Animal, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), Gobierno de Aragón. Av. Montañana, 930, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ignacio López-Goñi
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología e Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, C/ Irunlarrea, 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Beatriz San-Román
- Grupo de Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (CSIC-Universidad Pública de Navarra-Gobierno de Navarra), Campus de Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana Zabalza-Baranguá
- Grupo de Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (CSIC-Universidad Pública de Navarra-Gobierno de Navarra), Campus de Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Moriyón
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología e Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, C/ Irunlarrea, 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Jiang H, Du P, Zhang W, Wang H, Zhao H, Piao D, Tian G, Chen C, Cui B. Comparative genomic analysis of Brucella melitensis vaccine strain M5 provides insights into virulence attenuation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70852. [PMID: 23967122 PMCID: PMC3743847 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Brucella melitensis vaccine strain M5 is widely used to prevent and control brucellosis in animals. In this study, we determined the whole-genome sequence of M5, and conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis against the whole-genome sequence of the virulent strain 16 M and other reference strains. This analysis revealed 11 regions of deletion (RDs) and 2 regions of insertion (RIs) within the M5 genome. Among these regions, the sequences encompassed in 5 RDs and 1 RI showed consistent variation, with a large deletion between the M5 and the 16 M genomes. RD4 and RD5 showed the large diversity among all Brucella genomes, both in RD length and RD copy number. Thus, RD4 and RD5 are potential sites for typing different Brucella strains. Other RD and RI regions exhibited multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In addition, a genome fragment with a 56 kb rearrangement was determined to be consistent with previous studies. Comparative genomic analysis indicated that genomic island inversion in Brucella was widely present. With the genetic pattern common among all strains analyzed, these 2 RDs, 1 RI, and one inversion region are potential sites for detection of genomic differences. Several SNPs of important virulence-related genes (motB, dhbC, sfuB, dsbAB, aidA, aroC, and lysR) were also detected, and may be used to determine the mechanism of virulence attenuation. Collectively, this study reveals that comparative analysis between wild-type and vaccine strains can provide resources for the study of virulence and microevolution of Brucella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Pengcheng Du
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Department of Endemic and Parasitic Diseases Control and Prevention, Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongyan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Dongri Piao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Guozhong Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (CC); (BC)
| | - Buyun Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (CC); (BC)
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Comparative genomics of early-diverging Brucella strains reveals a novel lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway. mBio 2012; 3:e00246-12. [PMID: 22930339 PMCID: PMC3445970 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00246-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucella species are Gram-negative bacteria that infect mammals. Recently, two unusual strains (Brucella inopinata BO1T and B. inopinata-like BO2) have been isolated from human patients, and their similarity to some atypical brucellae isolated from Australian native rodent species was noted. Here we present a phylogenomic analysis of the draft genome sequences of BO1T and BO2 and of the Australian rodent strains 83-13 and NF2653 that shows that they form two groups well separated from the other sequenced Brucella spp. Several important differences were noted. Both BO1T and BO2 did not agglutinate significantly when live or inactivated cells were exposed to monospecific A and M antisera against O-side chain sugars composed of N-formyl-perosamine. While BO1T maintained the genes required to synthesize a typical Brucella O-antigen, BO2 lacked many of these genes but still produced a smooth LPS (lipopolysaccharide). Most missing genes were found in the wbk region involved in O-antigen synthesis in classic smooth Brucella spp. In their place, BO2 carries four genes that other bacteria use for making a rhamnose-based O-antigen. Electrophoretic, immunoblot, and chemical analyses showed that BO2 carries an antigenically different O-antigen made of repeating hexose-rich oligosaccharide units that made the LPS water-soluble, which contrasts with the homopolymeric O-antigen of other smooth brucellae that have a phenol-soluble LPS. The results demonstrate the existence of a group of early-diverging brucellae with traits that depart significantly from those of the Brucella species described thus far. This report examines differences between genomes from four new Brucella strains and those from the classic Brucella spp. Our results show that the four new strains are outliers with respect to the previously known Brucella strains and yet are part of the genus, forming two new clades. The analysis revealed important information about the evolution and survival mechanisms of Brucella species, helping reshape our knowledge of this important zoonotic pathogen. One discovery of special importance is that one of the strains, BO2, produces an O-antigen distinct from any that has been seen in any other Brucella isolates to date.
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Newly identified variability in Brucella canis fatty-acid content is associated with geographical origin. Epidemiol Infect 2012; 141:852-8. [PMID: 23174310 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268812001240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
This study compared the fatty-acid profiles of Brucella canis blood culture isolates obtained from infected dogs in the UK, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina, and from a human clinical case in Argentina, to a bank of isolates obtained from canine outbreaks in the USA. Analysis of a total of 42 B. canis isolates and one reference strain found a marked variation within the species. Fatty-acid analysis showed that only the isolates from Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico, which included the human B. canis isolate, contained a specific fatty acid, 19:0 cyclopropane (lactobacillic acid), w8c (cis-11,12-methylene octadecanoic acid), and that this fatty acid, when present, made up a large percentage of overall fatty-acid content. Prior to this study, the cellular fatty-acid 19:0 cyclopropane had been identified in all of the species of Brucella considered to be pathogenic to humans (B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis) except for B. canis. Discovering that this fatty acid not only occurs in B. canis, but also that it is only present in some strains of the species provides a new focus for investigations aimed at identifying the cause of reported geographical variability in human B. canis infection, and at finding predictors of biological behaviour and human pathogenicity within this Brucella species.
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Lipopolysaccharide heterogeneity in the atypical group of novel emerging Brucella species. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2012; 19:1370-3. [PMID: 22761298 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00300-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Recently, novel Brucella strains with phenotypic characteristics that were atypical for strains belonging to the genus Brucella have been reported. Phenotypically many of these strains were initially misidentified as Ochrobactrum spp. Two novel species have been described so far for these strains, i.e., B. microti and B. inopinata, and other strains genetically related to B. inopinata may constitute other novel species as well. In this study, we analyzed the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (smooth LPS [S-LPS] and rough LPS [R-LPS]) of these atypical strains using different methods and a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against several epitopes of the Brucella O-polysaccharide (O-PS) and R-LPS. Among the most striking results, Brucella sp. strain BO2, isolated from a patient with chronic destructive pneumonia, showed a completely distinct S-LPS profile in silver stain gels that looked more similar to that of enterobacterial S-LPS. This strain also failed to react with MAbs against Brucella O-PS epitopes and showed weak reactivity with anti-R-LPS MAbs. B. inopinata reference strain BO1 displayed an M-dominant S-LPS type with some heterogeneity relative to the classical M-dominant Brucella S-LPS type. Australian wild rodent strains belonging also to the B. inopinata group showed a classical A-dominant S-LPS but lacked the O-PS common (C) epitopes, as previously reported for B. suis biovar 2 strains. Interestingly, some strains also failed to react with anti-R-LPS MAbs, such as the B. microti reference strain and B. inopinata BO1, suggesting modifications in the core-lipid A moieties of these strains. These results have several implications for serological typing and serological diagnosis and underline the need for novel tools for detection and correct identification of such novel emerging Brucella spp.
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Guzmán-Verri C, González-Barrientos R, Hernández-Mora G, Morales JA, Baquero-Calvo E, Chaves-Olarte E, Moreno E. Brucella ceti and brucellosis in cetaceans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:3. [PMID: 22919595 PMCID: PMC3417395 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the first case of brucellosis detected in a dolphin aborted fetus, an increasing number of Brucella ceti isolates has been reported in members of the two suborders of cetaceans: Mysticeti and Odontoceti. Serological surveys have shown that cetacean brucellosis may be distributed worldwide in the oceans. Although all B. ceti isolates have been included within the same species, three different groups have been recognized according to their preferred host, bacteriological properties, and distinct genetic traits: B. ceti dolphin type, B. ceti porpoise type, and B. ceti human type. It seems that B. ceti porpoise type is more closely related to B. ceti human isolates and B. pinnipedialis group, while B. ceti dolphin type seems ancestral to them. Based on comparative phylogenetic analysis, it is feasible that the B. ceti ancestor radiated in a terrestrial artiodactyl host close to the Raoellidae family about 58 million years ago. The more likely mode of transmission of B. ceti seems to be through sexual intercourse, maternal feeding, aborted fetuses, placental tissues, vertical transmission from mother to the fetus or through fish or helminth reservoirs. The B. ceti dolphin and porpoise types seem to display variable virulence in land animal models and low infectivity for humans. However, brucellosis in some dolphins and porpoises has been demonstrated to be a severe chronic disease, displaying significant clinical and pathological signs related to abortions, male infertility, neurobrucellosis, cardiopathies, bone and skin lesions, strandings, and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Guzmán-Verri
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
| | | | | | - Juan-Alberto Morales
- Cátedra de Patología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
| | - Elías Baquero-Calvo
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
| | - Esteban Chaves-Olarte
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
- Facultad de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa RicaSan José, Costa Rica
| | - Edgardo Moreno
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad NacionalHeredia, Costa Rica
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa RicaSan José, Costa Rica
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Adone R, Muscillo M, La Rosa G, Francia M, Tarantino M. Antigenic, immunologic and genetic characterization of rough strains B. abortus RB51, B. melitensis B115 and B. melitensis B18. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24073. [PMID: 22065984 PMCID: PMC3204967 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2011] [Accepted: 07/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is considered the major virulent factor in Brucella spp. Several genes have been identified involved in the synthesis of the three LPS components: lipid A, core and O-PS. Usually, Brucella strains devoid of O-PS (rough mutants) are less virulent than the wild type and do not induce undesirable interfering antibodies. Such of them proved to be protective against brucellosis in mice. Because of these favorable features, rough strains have been considered potential brucellosis vaccines. In this study, we evaluated the antigenic, immunologic and genetic characteristics of rough strains B.abortus RB51, B.melitensis B115 and B.melitensis B18. RB51 derived from B.abortus 2308 virulent strain and B115 is a natural rough strain in which the O-PS is present in the cytoplasm. B18 is a rough rifampin-resistan mutant isolated in our laboratory. The surface antigenicity of RB51, B115 and B18 was evaluated by testing their ability to bind antibodies induced by rough or smooth Brucella strains. The antibody response induced by each strain was evaluated in rabbits. Twenty-one genes, involved in the LPS-synthesis, were sequenced and compared with the B.melitensis 16M strain. The results indicated that RB51, B115 and B18 have differences in antigenicity, immunologic and genetic properties. Particularly, in B115 a nonsense mutation was detected in wzm gene, which could explain the intracellular localization of O-PS in this strain. Complementation studies to evaluate the precise role of each mutation in affecting Brucella morphology and its virulence, could provide useful information for the assessment of new, attenuated vaccines for brucellosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Adone
- Dipartimento Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria e Sicurezza Alimentare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
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Novel IS711 chromosomal location useful for identification of marine mammal Brucella genotype ST27, which is associated with zoonotic infection. J Clin Microbiol 2011; 49:3954-9. [PMID: 21880970 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.05238-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a novel IS711 chromosomal location that is specific for the Brucella genotype ST27 previously associated with Pacific marine mammals and human zoonotic infection in New Zealand and Peru. Our data support the previous observation that this peculiar genotype is distinct from those commonly isolated from the Atlantic and currently classified within the species B. ceti and B. pinnipedialis.
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López-Goñi I, García-Yoldi D, Marín CM, de Miguel MJ, Barquero-Calvo E, Guzmán-Verri C, Albert D, Garin-Bastuji B. New Bruce-ladder multiplex PCR assay for the biovar typing of Brucella suis and the discrimination of Brucella suis and Brucella canis. Vet Microbiol 2011; 154:152-5. [PMID: 21782356 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2011] [Revised: 06/23/2011] [Accepted: 06/28/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Rapid and specific identification of Brucella suis at the biovar level is necessary because some of the biovars that infect animals are pathogenic for humans. None of the molecular typing methods described so far are able to discriminate B. suis biovars in a single test and differentiation of B. suis from Brucella canis by molecular approaches can be difficult. This article describes a new multiplex PCR assay, Suis-ladder, for fast and accurate identification of B. suis at the biovar level and the differentiation of B. suis, B. canis and Brucella microti. An advancement of the original Bruce-ladder PCR protocol which allows the correct discrimination of all known Brucella species is also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio López-Goñi
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
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Pei J, Ficht TA. Lipopolysaccharide: a complex role in the pathogenesis of brucellosis. Vet J 2011; 189:5-6. [PMID: 20702124 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2010] [Revised: 07/07/2010] [Accepted: 07/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Characterization of genomic island 3 and genetic variability of Chilean field strains of Brucella abortus. J Clin Microbiol 2011; 49:2461-9. [PMID: 21543580 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01176-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the capabilities developed by bacteria is the ability to gain large fragments of DNA from other bacteria or to lose portions of their own genomes. Among these exchangeable fragments are the genomic islands (GIs). Nine GIs have been identified in Brucella, and genomic island 3 (GI-3) is shared by two pathogenic species, B. melitensis and B. abortus. GI-3 encodes mostly unknown proteins. One of the aims of this study was to perform pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) on field isolates of B. abortus from Chile to determine whether these isolates are clonally related. Furthermore, we focused on the characterization of GI-3, studying its organization and the genetic conservation of the GI-3 sequence using techniques such as tiling-path PCR (TP-PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR (RFLP-PCR). Our results, after PFGE was performed on 69 field isolates of B. abortus from Chile, showed that the strains were genetically homogeneous. To increase the power of genetic discrimination among these strains, we used multiple locus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis with 16 loci (MLVA-16). The results obtained by MLVA-16 showed that the strains of B. abortus were genetically heterogeneous and that most of them clustered according to their geographic origin. Of the genetic loci studied, panel 2B was the one describing the highest diversity in the analysis, as well as locus Bruce19 in panel 2A. In relation to the study of GI-3, our experimental analysis by TP-PCR identified and confirmed that GI-3 is present in all wild strains of B. abortus, demonstrating the high stability of gene cluster GI-3 in Chilean field strains.
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Importance of Lipopolysaccharide and Cyclic β-1,2-Glucans in Brucella-Mammalian Infections. Int J Microbiol 2010; 2010:124509. [PMID: 21151694 PMCID: PMC2995898 DOI: 10.1155/2010/124509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2010] [Accepted: 10/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucella species are the causative agents of one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases: brucellosis. Infections by Brucella species cause major economic losses in agriculture, leading to abortions in infected animals and resulting in a severe, although rarely lethal, debilitating disease in humans. Brucella species persist as intracellular pathogens that manage to effectively evade recognition by the host's immune system. Sugar-modified components in the Brucella cell envelope play an important role in their host interaction. Brucella lipopolysaccharide (LPS), unlike Escherichia coli LPS, does not trigger the host's innate immune system. Brucella produces cyclic β-1,2-glucans, which are important for targeting them to their replicative niche in the endoplasmic reticulum within the host cell. This paper will focus on the role of LPS and cyclic β-1,2-glucans in Brucella-mammalian infections and discuss the use of mutants, within the biosynthesis pathway of these cell envelope structures, in vaccine development.
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Mancilla M, López-Goñi I, Moriyón I, Zárraga AM. Genomic island 2 is an unstable genetic element contributing to Brucella lipopolysaccharide spontaneous smooth-to-rough dissociation. J Bacteriol 2010; 192:6346-51. [PMID: 20952568 PMCID: PMC3008527 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00838-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2010] [Accepted: 10/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Brucella is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes a worldwide-distributed zoonosis. The genus includes smooth (S) and rough (R) species that differ in the presence or absence, respectively, of the O-polysaccharide of lipopolysaccharide. In S brucellae, the O-polysaccharide is a critical diagnostic antigen and a virulence determinant. However, S brucellae spontaneously dissociate into R forms, a problem in antigen and S vaccine production. Spontaneous R mutants of Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, and Brucella suis carried the chromosomal scar corresponding to genomic island 2 (GI-2) excision, an event causing the loss of the wboA and wboB O-polysaccharide genes, and the predicted excised circular intermediate was identified in B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis cultures. Moreover, disruption of a putative phage integrase gene in B. abortus GI-2 caused a reduction in O-polysaccharide loss rates under conditions promoting S-R dissociation. However, spontaneous R mutants not carrying the GI-2 scar were also detected. These results demonstrate that the phage integrase-related GI-2 excision is a cause of S-R brucella dissociation and that other undescribed mechanisms must also be involved. In the R Brucella species, previous works have shown that Brucella ovis but not Brucella canis lacks GI-2, and a chromosomal scar identical to those in R mutants was observed. These results suggest that the phage integrase-promoted GI-2 excision played a role in B. ovis speciation and are consistent with other evidence, suggesting that this species and B. canis have emerged as two independent lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Mancilla
- Instituto de Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio López-Goñi
- Instituto de Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Moriyón
- Instituto de Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana María Zárraga
- Instituto de Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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Novel IS711-specific chromosomal locations useful for identification and classification of marine mammal Brucella strains. J Clin Microbiol 2010; 48:3765-9. [PMID: 20702670 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01069-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We report five new IS711 chromosomal locations that are specific for marine mammal Brucella groups of strains and useful for their identification and classification. Our data support their current classification into two species, Brucella ceti and B. pinnipedialis, with subgroups in each, but also the possibility of additional species.
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