No Abstract Available.
Brucella abortus* ; Brucella* ; Immunity, Humoral* ; Jeju-do* ; Recombinant Proteins*

Brucella is an intracellular pathogen that invades a host and settles in its immune cells; however, the mechanism of its intracellular survival is unclear. Modification of small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) occurs in many cellular activities. E2 conjugating enzyme 9 (Ubc9) is the only reported ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that links the SUMO molecule with a target protein. Brucella's intracellular survival mechanism has not been studied with respect to SUMO-related proteins and Ubc9. Therefore, to investigate the relationship between Brucella melitensis 16M and SUMO, we constructed plasmids and cells lines suitable for overexpression and knockdown of SUMO1 and Ubc9 genes. Brucella 16M activated SUMO1/Ubc9 expression in a time-dependent manner, and Brucella 16M intracellular survival was inhibited by SUMO1/Ubc9 overexpression and promoted by SUMO1/Ubc9 depletion. In macrophages, Brucella 16M-dependent apoptosis and immune factors were induced by SUMO1/Ubc9 overexpression and restricted by SUMO1/Ubc9 depletion. We noted no effect on the expressions of SUMO1 and Ubc9 in B. melitensis 16M lipopolysaccharide-prestimulated mouse RAW264.7 macrophages. Additionally, intracellular survival of the 16M△VirB2 mutant was lower than that of Brucella 16M (p < 0.05). VirB2 can affect expression levels of Ubc9, thereby increasing intracellular survival of Brucella in macrophages at the late stage of infection. Collectively, our results demonstrate that B. melitensis 16M may use the VirB IV secretion system of Brucella to interact with SUMO-related proteins during infection of host cells, which interferes with SUMO function and promotes pathogen survival in host cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brucella melitensis ; Brucella ; Immunologic Factors ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Plasmids

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; methods ; Brucella ; classification

Humans ; Brucella ; Endocarditis/diagnosis* ; Endocarditis, Bacterial

Brucellosis is a zoonosis, which is caused by Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis and B. canis. Brucellosis has been an emerging disease since the discovery of B. melitensis, by Bruce, in 1887. Worldwide, brucellosis remains a major source of disease in both humans and domesticated animals. A high prevalence in certain geographical areas is well recognized, but has been largely underestimated. In Korea, the first human case of Brucellosis occurred in 2002, but the incidence of human brucellosis has now increased. Herein, a case of epididymorchitis due to brucellosis is reported.
Animals, Domestic ; Brucella abortus ; Brucella* ; Brucellosis ; Epididymitis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Orchitis ; Prevalence

Although Brucella endocarditis is a rare complication of human brucellosis, it is the main cause of the mortality in this disease. Traditionally, the therapeutic approach to endocarditis caused by Brucella species requires a combination of antimicrobial therapy and valve replacement surgery. In the literature, only a few cases of mitral prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Brucella species have been successfully treated without reoperation. We present a case of a 42-year-old man with a prosthetic mitral valve infected by Brucella abortus who was cured solely by medical treatment.
Adult ; Brucella ; Brucella abortus* ; Brucellosis ; Endocarditis* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Humans ; Mitral Valve* ; Mortality ; Reoperation

Brucellosis is one of the common zoonoses caused by Brucella abortus (B. abortus). However, little has been reported on factors affecting invasion of B. abortus into host cells. To investigate cell-type dependent invasion of B. abortus, phagocytic RAW 264.7 and THP-1 cells and non-phagocytic HeLa cells were infected with wild-type and mutant B. abortus, and their invasion efficiencies were compared. The invasion efficiencies of the strains were cell-type dependent. Wild-type B. abortus invasion efficiency was greater in phagocytic cells than in epithelial cells. The results also indicated that there are different factors involved in the invasion of B. abortus into phagocytic cells.
Brucella abortus ; Brucella ; Brucellosis ; Epithelial Cells ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Phagocytes ; Zoonoses

OBJECTIVES: Brucellosis is a major zoonotic disease that poses a significant public health threat worldwide. The classical bacteriological detection process used to identify Brucella spp. is difficult and time-consuming. This study aimed to develop a novel molecular assay for detecting brucellosis. METHODS: All complete sequences of chromosome 1 with 2.1-Mbp lengths were compared among all available Brucella sequences. A unique repeat sequence (URS) locus on chromosome 1 could differentiate Brucella abortus from Brucella melitensis. A primer set was designed to flank the unique locus. A total of 136 lymph nodes and blood samples were evaluated and classified by the URS-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in 2013–2014. RESULTS: Biochemical tests and bacteriophage typing as the golden standard indicated that all Brucella spp. isolates were B. melitensis biovar 1 and B. abortus biovar 3. The PCR results were the same as the bacteriological method for detecting Brucella spp. The sensitivity and specificity of the URS-PCR method make it suitable for detecting B. abortus and B. melitensis. CONCLUSION: Quick detection of B. abortus and B. melitensis can provide the most effective strategies for control of these bacteria. The advantage of this method over other presented methods is that both B. abortus and B. melitensis are detectable in a single test tube. Furthermore, this method covered 100% of all B. melitensis and B. abortus biotypes. The development of this URS-PCR method is the first step toward the development of a novel kit for the molecular identification of B. abortus and B. melitensis.
Bacteria ; Bacteriophage Typing ; Brucella abortus* ; Brucella melitensis* ; Brucella* ; Brucellosis ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Lymph Nodes ; Methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Public Health ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Zoonoses

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection that is usually transmitted from cattle to humans through ingestion of animal milk, direct contact with animal parts, or inhalation of aerosolized particles. In Korea, brucellosis seem to be transmitted through close contact with blood, fetus, urine, and placenta of domestic cow that has been infected by Brucella abortus, or inhalation of B. arbortus while examining or slaughtering cow. Brucella melitensis infection is rare in Korea and there have been no reported cases of B. melitensis originating from other countries until now. This report details a case of complicated brucellosis with infective spondylitis in a 48-year-old male construction worker recently returned from Iraq. Infection with B. melitensis was confirmed using 16s rRNA sequencing and omp31 gene analysis. The patient was successfully treated using a combination of rifampin, doxycycline, and streptomycin, in accordance with WHO guidelines. This is the first reported case of complicated brucellosis with infective spondylitis in Korea caused by B. melitensis originating from Iraq.
Animals ; Brucella abortus ; Brucella melitensis* ; Brucella* ; Brucellosis ; Cattle ; Doxycycline ; Eating ; Fetus ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Iraq ; Korea* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Middle East ; Milk ; Placenta ; Rifampin ; Spondylitis ; Streptomycin ; Zoonoses

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection that is usually transmitted from cattle to humans through ingestion of animal milk, direct contact with animal parts, or inhalation of aerosolized particles. In Korea, brucellosis seem to be transmitted through close contact with blood, fetus, urine, and placenta of domestic cow that has been infected by Brucella abortus, or inhalation of B. arbortus while examining or slaughtering cow. Brucella melitensis infection is rare in Korea and there have been no reported cases of B. melitensis originating from other countries until now. This report details a case of complicated brucellosis with infective spondylitis in a 48-year-old male construction worker recently returned from Iraq. Infection with B. melitensis was confirmed using 16s rRNA sequencing and omp31 gene analysis. The patient was successfully treated using a combination of rifampin, doxycycline, and streptomycin, in accordance with WHO guidelines. This is the first reported case of complicated brucellosis with infective spondylitis in Korea caused by B. melitensis originating from Iraq.
Animals ; Brucella abortus ; Brucella melitensis* ; Brucella* ; Brucellosis ; Cattle ; Doxycycline ; Eating ; Fetus ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Iraq ; Korea* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Middle East ; Milk ; Placenta ; Rifampin ; Spondylitis ; Streptomycin ; Zoonoses