Biomaterial Database

Molecular basis of Brucella pathogenicity: an update. 1996

F J Sangari, and J Agüero

Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, España.

Microorganisms belonging to the genus Brucella can infect humans and many species of animals. Virulence of the brucellae is thought to be essentially due to their capacity to survive and replicate within the phagocytic cells. However, many gaps remain in our understanding of this ability of brucellae to elude the bactericidal effects of host phagocytes, and basic questions remain unanswered. Identification of Brucella gene products which are related to intracellular survival, as well as those which contribute to the induction of protective immunity, is critical to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of the organism. The present article summarizes the current status of the research on gene products and other structural or metabolic factors associated with virulence of the brucellae.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008070	Lipopolysaccharides	Lipid-containing polysaccharides which are endotoxins and important group-specific antigens. They are often derived from the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and induce immunoglobulin secretion. The lipopolysaccharide molecule consists of three parts: LIPID A, core polysaccharide, and O-specific chains (O ANTIGENS). When derived from Escherichia coli, lipopolysaccharides serve as polyclonal B-cell mitogens commonly used in laboratory immunology. (From Dorland, 28th ed)	Lipopolysaccharide,Lipoglycans
D010586	Phagocytes	Cells that can carry out the process of PHAGOCYTOSIS.	Phagocyte,Phagocytic Cell,Phagocytic Cells,Cell, Phagocytic,Cells, Phagocytic
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011938	Rec A Recombinases	A family of recombinases initially identified in BACTERIA. They catalyze the ATP-driven exchange of DNA strands in GENETIC RECOMBINATION. The product of the reaction consists of a duplex and a displaced single-stranded loop, which has the shape of the letter D and is therefore called a D-loop structure.	Rec A Protein,RecA Protein,Recombinases, Rec A
D002002	Brucella	A genus of gram-negative, aerobic bacteria that causes BRUCELLOSIS. Its cells are nonmotile coccobacilli and are animal parasites and pathogens. The bacterium is transmissible to humans through contact with infected dairy products or tissue.
D002006	Brucellosis	Infection caused by bacteria of the genus BRUCELLA mainly involving the MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTE SYSTEM. This condition is characterized by fever, weakness, malaise, and weight loss.	Malta Fever,Undulant Fever,Brucella Infection,Brucellosis, Pulmonary,Cyprus Fever,Gibraltar Fever,Rock Fever,Brucella Infections,Brucelloses,Brucelloses, Pulmonary,Fever, Cyprus,Fever, Gibraltar,Fever, Malta,Fever, Rock,Fever, Undulant,Infection, Brucella,Pulmonary Brucelloses,Pulmonary Brucellosis
D002262	Carboxy-Lyases	Enzymes that catalyze the addition of a carboxyl group to a compound (carboxylases) or the removal of a carboxyl group from a compound (decarboxylases). EC 4.1.1.	Carboxy-Lyase,Decarboxylase,Decarboxylases,Carboxy Lyase,Carboxy Lyases
D002374	Catalase	An oxidoreductase that catalyzes the conversion of HYDROGEN PEROXIDE to water and oxygen. It is present in many animal cells. A deficiency of this enzyme results in ACATALASIA.	Catalase A,Catalase T,Manganese Catalase,Mn Catalase
D004896	Erythritol	A four-carbon sugar that is found in algae, fungi, and lichens. It is twice as sweet as sucrose and can be used as a coronary vasodilator.
D005260	Female		Females