Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine: http://www.expertreviews.org/
DOI: 10.1017/S1462399407000543; 19 December 2007
Emilie Fugier, Georgios Pappas and Jean-Pierre Gorvel (2007) Virulence factors in brucellosis: implications for aetiopathogenesis and treatment. Expert Rev. Mol. Med. Vol. 9, Issue 35, DOI: 10.1017/S1462399407000543

Virulence factors in brucellosis: implications for aetiopathogenesis and treatment

Emilie Fugier ^a1, Georgios Pappas ^a2 and Jean-Pierre Gorvel ^{a1 c1}

^a1 Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (CIML), Inserm U631, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.

^a2 Institute of Continuing Medical Education of Ioannina, H. Trikoupi 10, Ioannina 45333, Greece.

^c1 Corresponding author: Jean-Pierre Gorvel, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (CIML), Inserm U631, CNRS UMR 6102, Aix-Marseille University, Case 906, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France. Tel: +33 491 269 418; Fax: +33 491 269 426; E-mail: gorvel@ciml.univ-mrs.fr

Brucella species are responsible for the global zoonotic disease brucellosis. These intracellular pathogens express a set of factors – including lipopolysaccharides, virulence regulator proteins and phosphatidylcholine – to ensure their full virulence. Some virulence factors are essential for invasion of the host cell, whereas others are crucial to avoid elimination by the host. They allow Brucella spp. to survive and proliferate within its replicative vacuole and enable the bacteria to escape detection by the host immune system. Several strategies have been used to develop animal vaccines against brucellosis, but no adequate vaccine yet exists to cure the disease in humans. This is probably due to the complicated pathophysiology of human Brucella spp. infection, which is different than in animal models. Here we review Brucella spp. virulence factors and how they control bacterial trafficking within the host cell.

Full text online (purchase or subscribe through Cambridge Journals Online)

| home | search | glossary | links | sitemap | contact |

Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine © Cambridge University Press ISSN 1462-3994 (Disclaimer and copyright)
Editorial Office: Centre for Applied Research in Educational Technologies (CARET), 1st Floor, 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1SB, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1223 765 375; Fax: +44(0)1223 765 505; E-mail: ermm@caret.cam.ac.uk