ATP-Binding Cassette Systems ofBrucella

Brucellosis is a prevalent zoonotic disease and is endemic in the Middle East, South America, and other areas of the world. In this study, complete inventories of putative functional ABC systems of fiveBrucellaspecies have been compiled and compared. ABC systems ofBrucella melitensis16M,Brucella abortus9-941,Brucella canisRM6/66,Brucella suis1330, andBrucella ovis63/290 were identified and aligned. High numbers of ABC systems, particularly nutrient importers, were found in allBrucellaspecies. However, differences in the total numbers of ABC systems were identified (B. melitensis, 79;B. suis, 72;B. abortus64;B. canis, 74;B. ovis, 59) as well as specific differences in the functional ABC systems of theBrucellaspecies. SinceB. ovisis not known to cause human brucellosis, functional ABC systems absent in theB. ovisgenome may represent virulence factors in human brucellosis.

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Genomic Island 2 Is an Unstable Genetic Element Contributing to Brucella Lipopolysaccharide Spontaneous Smooth-to-Rough Dissociation

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00838-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 192 (24) ◽

pp. 6346-6351 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Marcos Mancilla ◽

Ignacio López-Goñi ◽

Ignacio Moriyón ◽

Ana María Zárraga

Keyword(s):

Brucella Abortus ◽

Genomic Island ◽

Brucella Melitensis ◽

Vaccine Production ◽

Negative Bacterium ◽

Integrase Gene ◽

Brucella Ovis ◽

Phage Integrase ◽

Brucella Canis ◽

Putative Phage

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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Differentiation of Brucella abortus bv. 1, 2, and 4, Brucella melitensis, Brucella ovis, and Brucella suis bv. 1 by PCR.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.32.11.2660-2666.1994 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 32 (11) ◽

pp. 2660-2666 ◽

Cited By ~ 229

Author(s):

B J Bricker ◽

S M Halling

Keyword(s):

Brucella Abortus ◽

Brucella Melitensis ◽

Brucella Ovis ◽

Brucella Suis

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Draft Genome Sequences of Five Clinical Strains of Brucella melitensis Isolated from Patients Residing in Kuwait: TABLE 1

Genome Announcements ◽

10.1128/genomea.01144-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mohd Wasif Khan ◽

Nazima Habibi ◽

Faraz Shaheed ◽

Abu Salim Mustafa

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Geographic Distribution ◽

Brucella Melitensis ◽

Draft Genome ◽

Human Brucellosis ◽

Genome Sequences ◽

Clinical Strains ◽

The World ◽

Genome Assemblies

Human brucellosis is a neglected and underrecognized infection of widespread geographic distribution. Brucellosis is present on all inhabited continents and endemic in many areas of the world, including Kuwait and the Middle East. Here, we present draft genome assemblies of five Brucella melitensis strains isolated from brucellosis patients in Kuwait.

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