Dataset Information

Genome degradation in Brucella ovis corresponds with narrowing of its host range and tissue tropism.

ABSTRACT: Brucella ovis is a veterinary pathogen associated with epididymitis in sheep. Despite its genetic similarity to the zoonotic pathogens B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis, B. ovis does not cause zoonotic disease. Genomic analysis of the type strain ATCC25840 revealed a high percentage of pseudogenes and increased numbers of transposable elements compared to the zoonotic Brucella species, suggesting that genome degradation has occurred concomitant with narrowing of the host range of B. ovis. The absence of genomic island 2, encoding functions required for lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, as well as inactivation of genes encoding urease, nutrient uptake and utilization, and outer membrane proteins may be factors contributing to the avirulence of B. ovis for humans. A 26.5 kb region of B. ovis ATCC25840 Chromosome II was absent from all the sequenced human pathogenic Brucella genomes, but was present in all of 17 B. ovis isolates tested and in three B. ceti isolates, suggesting that this DNA region may be of use for differentiating B. ovis from other Brucella spp. This is the first genomic analysis of a non-zoonotic Brucella species. The results suggest that inactivation of genes involved in nutrient acquisition and utilization, cell envelope structure and urease may have played a role in narrowing of the tissue tropism and host range of B. ovis.

SUBMITTER: Tsolis RM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2677664 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genome degradation in Brucella ovis corresponds with narrowing of its host range and tissue tropism.

Tsolis Renee M RM Seshadri Rekha R Santos Renato L RL Sangari Felix J FJ Lobo Juan M García JM de Jong Maarten F MF Ren Qinghu Q Myers Garry G Brinkac Lauren M LM Nelson William C WC Deboy Robert T RT Angiuoli Samuel S Khouri Hoda H Dimitrov George G Robinson Jeffrey R JR Mulligan Stephanie S Walker Richard L RL Elzer Philip E PE Hassan Karl A KA Paulsen Ian T IT

PloS one 20090513 5

Brucella ovis is a veterinary pathogen associated with epididymitis in sheep. Despite its genetic similarity to the zoonotic pathogens B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis, B. ovis does not cause zoonotic disease. Genomic analysis of the type strain ATCC25840 revealed a high percentage of pseudogenes and increased numbers of transposable elements compared to the zoonotic Brucella species, suggesting that genome degradation has occurred concomitant with narrowing of the host range of B. ovis. Th ...[more]

PMID: 19436743

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Project description:Brucella dynamically engage macrophages while trafficking to an intracellular replicative niche as macrophages, the first line of innate host defense, attempt to eliminate organisms. Brucella melitensis, B. neotomae, and B. ovis are highly homologous, yet exhibit a range of host pathogenicity and specificity. RAW 264.7 macrophages infected with B. melitensis, and B. ovis exhibit divergent patterns of bacterial persistence and clearance; conversely, B. melitensis and B. neotomae exhibit similar patterns of infection. Evaluating early macrophage interaction with Brucella spp. allows discovery of host entry and intracellular translocation mechanisms, rather than bacterial replication. Microarray analysis of macrophage transcript levels following a 4 hr Brucella spp. infection revealed 130 probe sets altered compared to uninfected macrophages; specifically, 72 probe sets were increased and 58 probe sets were decreased with any Brucella spp. Interestingly, much of the inflammatory response was not regulated by the number of Brucella gaining intracellular entry, as macrophage transcript levels were often equivalent among B. melitensis, B. ovis, and B. neotomae infections. An additional 33 probe sets were identified with altered macrophage transcript levels among Brucella spp. infections that may correlate with species specific host defenses and intracellular survival. Gene ontological categorization unveiled genes altered among species are involved in cell growth and maintenance, response to external stimuli, transcription regulation, transporter activity, endopeptidase inhibitor activity and G-protein mediated signaling. Host transcript profiles provide a foundation to understand variations in Brucella spp. infections, while structure of the macrophage response and intracellular niche of Brucella spp. will be revealed through piecewise consideration of host signaling pathways. Keywords: Macrophage, intracellular pathogen, Brucella melitensis, Brucella neotomae, Brucella ovis, inflammatory immune response, species specificity

Dataset Information

Genome degradation in Brucella ovis corresponds with narrowing of its host range and tissue tropism.

Publications

Genome degradation in Brucella ovis corresponds with narrowing of its host range and tissue tropism.

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