Submitted to: Microbial and Comparative Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 16, 1997
Publication Date: N/A
Interpretive Summary: Brucellosis is a cause of abortions and stillbirth in cattle and wild ruminants. Infection with the bacterium Brucella abortus is the cause of this economically important disease. A genetic pathway was found in B. abortus, which may be important for the agent to survive in cattle. Further research on this pathway may lead to vaccine and diagnostic improvements needed to control brucellosis. Eradication of brucellosis from cattle in the United States will protect the food supply and protect international markets.
Technical Abstract: Brucellae are pathogenic, nonmotile bacteria, which are facultative intracellular parasites. Little is known about the genetics of these bacteria. Open reading frames from Brucella abortus with similarity to flagellin, M-ring, and hook of related bacteria were discovered. The open reading frames encode proteins of three of the four flagellum gene classes, ,namely II, III, and IV. A homolog of the LcrD virulence superfamily was also found. This superfamily is involved in type III protein secretion. B. abortus has the potential for motility and type III secretion.