Brucella – Virulence Factors, Pathogenesis and Treatment

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).

RNA-Sequencing Analyses of Small Bacterial RNAs and their Emergence as Virulence Factors in Host-Pathogen Interactions

“…Thanks to Bsr1141 Brucella could withstand different environmental conditions during their long-term residence in host macrophages [91]. The major virulence factors reported in Brucella pathogenesis are often lipopolysaccharide (LPS), T4SS, and the BvrR/BvrS system [92,93]. sRNAs are rarely or never mentioned as virulence factors.…”

Bovine brucellosis – a comprehensive review

“…Frequency of relapse was 1.96 times more when co-trimoxazole plus rifampin drug combination was used as compared to co-trimoxazole along with doxycycline (Roushan et al 2004 ). Moreover, tauroursodeoxycholic acid or ginseng saponin fraction A has also been reported to inhibit intracellular replication of Brucella (Głowacka et al 2018 ). Some researchers have used fluoroquinolones experimentally for the treatment of brucellosis and results do not advocate their use as first line of treatment (Pappas, Christou et al 2006 ).…”

Susceptibility of Avian Species to Brucella Infection: A Hypothesis-Driven Study

“…Brucella does not produce classical virulence factors, such as exotoxin, plasmids, fimbria, and cytolysins. However, it can survive and multiply efficiently within both phagocytic and nonphagocytic cells [43]. Brucella infects hosts by adhering to and penetrating the mucosal epithelium surfaces.…”