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Virulence factors in brucellosis: implications for aetiopathogenesis and treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2007

Emilie Fugier ,
Georgios Pappas  and
Jean-Pierre Gorvel
Emilie Fugier
Affiliation:
Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (CIML), Inserm U631, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.
Georgios Pappas
Affiliation:
Institute of Continuing Medical Education of Ioannina, H. Trikoupi 10, Ioannina 45333, Greece.
Jean-Pierre Gorvel*
Affiliation:
Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (CIML), Inserm U631, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.
*
*Corresponding author: Jean-Pierre Gorvel, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (CIML), Inserm U631, CNRS UMR 6102, Aix-Marseille University, Case 906, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France. Tel:  +33 491 269 418; Fax:  +33 491 269 426; E-mail: gorvel@ciml.univ-mrs.fr
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Abstract

Brucella species are responsible for the global zoonotic disease brucellosis. These intracellular pathogens express a set of factors – including lipopolysaccharides, virulence regulator proteins and phosphatidylcholine – to ensure their full virulence. Some virulence factors are essential for invasion of the host cell, whereas others are crucial to avoid elimination by the host. They allow Brucella spp. to survive and proliferate within its replicative vacuole and enable the bacteria to escape detection by the host immune system. Several strategies have been used to develop animal vaccines against brucellosis, but no adequate vaccine yet exists to cure the disease in humans. This is probably due to the complicated pathophysiology of human Brucella spp. infection, which is different than in animal models. Here we review Brucella spp. virulence factors and how they control bacterial trafficking within the host cell.

Type
Review Article
Information
Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine , Volume 9 , Issue 35 , December 2007 , pp. 1 - 10
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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References

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Further reading, resources and contacts

Gorvel, J.P., ed. (2003) Intracellular Pathogens in Membrane Interactions and Vacuole Biogenesis, Landes Bioscience/Eurekah.comCrossRefGoogle Scholar
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/brucellosisGoogle Scholar
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol3no2/corbel.htmGoogle Scholar
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic248.htmGoogle Scholar