Cellular bioterrorism: how Brucella corrupts macrophage physiology to promote invasion and proliferation.
Brucellosis is a worldwide human zoonosis caused by intracellular bacteria of the genus Brucella. Virulence factors play an important role in allowing Brucella infection and proliferation within macrophages. Brucella enters macrophages through lipid raft microdomains, avoids phagolysosome fusion, and inhibits TNF-alpha secretion and apoptosis. Furthermore, Brucella can perturb bactericidal activity in macrophages by influencing the host cell response to its advantage through its LPS or by activating the cAMP/PKA pathway. To date, small steps have been taken in defining and understanding the virulence factors of Brucella used in macrophage subversion, but further investigation is required to fully explain virulence and persistence.
Jimenez de Bagues
Maria-Pilar
MP
Unidad de Sanidad Animal, Servicio de Investigación Agroalimentaria, Diputación General de Aragón, Ap. 727. 50080 Zaragoza, Spain.
Maria-Pilar
Jimenez de Bagues
Jde B
Dudal
Sherri
S
Dornand
Jacques
J
Gross
Antoine
A
D000818:Animals; D002002:Brucella / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases