<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><italic>Brucellae</italic> are Gram-negative, small rods infecting mammals and capable of causing disease called brucellosis. The infection results in abortion and sterility in domestic animals (sheeps, pigs, rams etc). Especially dangerous for humans are: <italic>Brucella melitensis, Brucella suis, Brucella abortus</italic>, and <italic>Brucella canis</italic> that trigger unspecific symptoms (flu-like manifestation). <italic>Brucella</italic> rods are introduced via host cells, by inhalation, skin abrasions, ingestion or mucosal membranes. The most important feature of <italic>Brucella</italic> is the ability to survive and multiply within both phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. <italic>Brucella</italic> does not produce classical virulence factors: exotoxin, cytolisins, exoenzymes, plasmids, fimbria, and drug resistant forms. Major virulence factors are: lipopolysaccharide (LPS), T4SS secretion system and BvrR/BvrS system, which allow interaction with host cell surface, formation of an early, late BCV (<italic>Brucella</italic> Containing Vacuole) and interaction with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) when the bacteria multiply. The treatment of brucellosis is based on two-drug therapy, the most common combinations of antibiotics are: doxycycline with rifampicin or fluoroquinolones with rifampicin. Currently, also other methods are used to disrupt <italic>Brucella</italic> intracellular replication (tauroursodeoxycholic acid or ginseng saponin fraction A).</p></abstract>

Brucellae are Gram-negative, small rods infecting mammals and capable of causing disease called brucellosis. The infection results in abortion and sterility in domestic animals (sheeps, pigs, rams etc). Especially dangerous for humans are: Brucella melitensis, Brucella suis, Brucella abortus, and Brucella canis that trigger unspecific symptoms (flu-like manifestation). Brucella rods are introduced via host cells, by inhalation, skin abrasions, ingestion or mucosal membranes. The most important feature of Brucella is the ability to survive and multiply within both phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. Brucella does not produce classical virulence factors: exotoxin, cytolisins, exoenzymes, plasmids, fimbria, and drug resistant forms. Major virulence factors are: lipopolysaccharide (LPS), T4SS secretion system and BvrR/BvrS system, which allow interaction with host cell surface, formation of an early, late BCV (Brucella Containing Vacuole) and interaction with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) when the bacteria multiply. The treatment of brucellosis is based on two-drug therapy, the most common combinations of antibiotics are: doxycycline with rifampicin or fluoroquinolones with rifampicin. Currently, also other methods are used to disrupt Brucella intracellular replication (tauroursodeoxycholic acid or ginseng saponin fraction A).

<italic>Brucella</italic> – Virulence Factors, Pathogenesis and Treatment

Polish Journal of Microbiology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

 – Virulence Factors, Pathogenesis and Treatment

Brucellae are Gram-negative, small rods infecting mammals and capable of causing disease called brucellosis. The infection results in abortion and sterility in...

Brucella – Virulence Factors, Pathogenesis and Treatment

Article Category: mini-review

Publié en ligne: 30 juin 2018

Pages: 151 - 161

Reçu: 17 oct. 2017

Accepté: 28 févr. 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/pjm-2018-029

Mots clés
endoplasmic reticulum, macrophage, replication, virulence factors

© 2018 PATRYCJA GŁOWACKA et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1.

Brucella – Virulence Factors, Pathogenesis and Treatment

Article Category: mini-review

Publié en ligne: 30 juin 2018

Pages: 151 - 161

Reçu: 17 oct. 2017

Accepté: 28 févr. 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/pjm-2018-029

Mots clésendoplasmic reticulum, macrophage, replication, virulence factors

© 2018 PATRYCJA GŁOWACKA et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1.

Mots clés
endoplasmic reticulum, macrophage, replication, virulence factors