<i>Brucella</i> and Its Hidden Flagellar System
<i>Brucella</i>, a Gram-negative bacterium with a high infective capacity and a wide spectrum of hosts in the animal world, is found in terrestrial and marine mammals, as well as amphibians. This broad spectrum of hosts is closely related to the non-classical virulence factors that allow...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/1/83 |
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| author | Roberto F. Coloma-Rivero Manuel Flores-Concha Raúl E. Molina Rodrigo Soto-Shara Ángelo Cartes Ángel A. Oñate |
| author_facet | Roberto F. Coloma-Rivero Manuel Flores-Concha Raúl E. Molina Rodrigo Soto-Shara Ángelo Cartes Ángel A. Oñate |
| author_sort | Roberto F. Coloma-Rivero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Brucella</i>, a Gram-negative bacterium with a high infective capacity and a wide spectrum of hosts in the animal world, is found in terrestrial and marine mammals, as well as amphibians. This broad spectrum of hosts is closely related to the non-classical virulence factors that allow this pathogen to establish its replicative niche, colonizing epithelial and immune system cells, evading the host’s defenses and defensive response. While motility is the primary role of the flagellum in most bacteria, in <i>Brucella,</i> the flagellum is involved in virulence, infectivity, cell growth, and biofilm formation, all of which are very important facts in a bacterium that to date has been described as a non-motile organism. Evidence of the expression of these flagellar proteins that are present in <i>Brucella</i> makes it possible to hypothesize certain evolutionary aspects as to where a free-living bacterium eventually acquired genetic material from environmental microorganisms, including flagellar genes, conferring on it the ability to reach other hosts (mammals), and, under selective pressure from the environment, can express these genes, helping it to evade the immune response. This review summarizes relevant aspects of the presence of flagellar proteins and puts into context their relevance in certain functions associated with the infective process. The study of these flagellar genes gives the genus <i>Brucella</i> a very high infectious versatility, placing it among the main organisms in urgent need of study, as it is linked to human health by direct contact with farm animals and by eventual transmission to the general population, where flagellar genes and proteins are of great relevance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:54:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5cec9d46cf642708c91d854bdbb235a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:54:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5cec9d46cf642708c91d854bdbb235a2023-11-23T14:47:03ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-12-011018310.3390/microorganisms10010083<i>Brucella</i> and Its Hidden Flagellar SystemRoberto F. Coloma-Rivero0Manuel Flores-Concha1Raúl E. Molina2Rodrigo Soto-Shara3Ángelo Cartes4Ángel A. Oñate5Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, ChileLaboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, ChileLaboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, ChileLaboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, ChileLaboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, ChileLaboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile<i>Brucella</i>, a Gram-negative bacterium with a high infective capacity and a wide spectrum of hosts in the animal world, is found in terrestrial and marine mammals, as well as amphibians. This broad spectrum of hosts is closely related to the non-classical virulence factors that allow this pathogen to establish its replicative niche, colonizing epithelial and immune system cells, evading the host’s defenses and defensive response. While motility is the primary role of the flagellum in most bacteria, in <i>Brucella,</i> the flagellum is involved in virulence, infectivity, cell growth, and biofilm formation, all of which are very important facts in a bacterium that to date has been described as a non-motile organism. Evidence of the expression of these flagellar proteins that are present in <i>Brucella</i> makes it possible to hypothesize certain evolutionary aspects as to where a free-living bacterium eventually acquired genetic material from environmental microorganisms, including flagellar genes, conferring on it the ability to reach other hosts (mammals), and, under selective pressure from the environment, can express these genes, helping it to evade the immune response. This review summarizes relevant aspects of the presence of flagellar proteins and puts into context their relevance in certain functions associated with the infective process. The study of these flagellar genes gives the genus <i>Brucella</i> a very high infectious versatility, placing it among the main organisms in urgent need of study, as it is linked to human health by direct contact with farm animals and by eventual transmission to the general population, where flagellar genes and proteins are of great relevance.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/1/83<i>Brucella abortus</i>flagellumflagellinORFvirulence factors |
| spellingShingle | Roberto F. Coloma-Rivero Manuel Flores-Concha Raúl E. Molina Rodrigo Soto-Shara Ángelo Cartes Ángel A. Oñate <i>Brucella</i> and Its Hidden Flagellar System Microorganisms <i>Brucella abortus</i> flagellum flagellin ORF virulence factors |
| title | <i>Brucella</i> and Its Hidden Flagellar System |
| title_full | <i>Brucella</i> and Its Hidden Flagellar System |
| title_fullStr | <i>Brucella</i> and Its Hidden Flagellar System |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Brucella</i> and Its Hidden Flagellar System |
| title_short | <i>Brucella</i> and Its Hidden Flagellar System |
| title_sort | i brucella i and its hidden flagellar system |
| topic | <i>Brucella abortus</i> flagellum flagellin ORF virulence factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/1/83 |
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