title: Unraveling Brucella genomics and pathogenesis in immunocompromised IRF-1-/- mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brucellosis causes abortion in domestic animals and Malta fever in humans. Comparison of Brucella species genomes may reveal potential virulence mechanisms. Engineering bioluminescent Brucella would permit monitoring bacterial dissemination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microarray of the B. melitensis genome allowed comparison of gene content from six Brucella species. Bioluminescent B. melitensis strains were developed using transposon mutagenesis permitting the study of pathogenic Brucella in mice. Monitoring bacterial dissemination as well as organ localization permits evaluating the role of genes and genomic islands in mutant bacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparative genomic analysis revealed 217 ORFs altered in five Brucella species and were often found in islands. Bioluminescent bacteria disseminated from the injection site to liver, spleen, inguinal lymph nodes, testes and submanibular region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genomic islands contribute to Brucella pathogenicity. Biophotonic imaging suggests that Brucella dissemination in mice parallels acute and chronic infections of humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Gireesh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rajashekara
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krepps
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eskra
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathison
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Splitter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D044404:Genomic Islands / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000276:immunology*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; C494258:Irf1 protein, mouse; D008164:Luminescent Proteins