Adhesins of Brucella: Their Roles in the Interaction with the Host

BIALER, MAGALÍ G.; SYCZ, GABRIELA; MUÑOZ GONZÁLEZ, FLORENCIA; FERRERO, MARIANA C.; BALDI, PABLO C.; ZORREGUIETA, ANGELES

Pathogens

MDPI

Lugar: BaselAbstract: A central aspect of Brucella pathogenicity is its ability to invade, survive, and replicate in diverse phagocytic and non-phagocytic cell types, leading to chronic infections and chronic inflammatory phenomena. Adhesion to the target cell i; Año: 2020 vol. 9

Abstract: A central aspect of Brucella pathogenicity is its ability to invade, survive, and replicatein diverse phagocytic and non-phagocytic cell types, leading to chronic infections and chronicinflammatory phenomena. Adhesion to the target cell is a critical first step in the invasionprocess. Several Brucella adhesins have been shown to mediate adhesion to cells, extracellularmatrix components (ECM), or both. These include the sialic acid-binding proteins SP29 and SP41(binding to erythrocytes and epithelial cells, respectively), the BigA and BigB proteins that contain anIg-like domain (binding to cell adhesion molecules in epithelial cells), the monomeric autotransportersBmaA, BmaB, and BmaC (binding to ECM components, epithelial cells, osteoblasts, synoviocytes,and trophoblasts), the trimeric autotransporters BtaE and BtaF (binding to ECM components andepithelial cells) and Bp26 (binding to ECM components). An in vivo role has also been shown forthe trimeric autotransporters, as deletion mutants display decreased colonization after oral and/orrespiratory infection in mice, and it has also been suggested for BigA and BigB. Several adhesins haveshown unipolar localization, suggesting that Brucella would express an adhesive pole. Adhesin-basedvaccines may be useful to prevent brucellosis, as intranasal immunization in mice with BtaF conferredhigh levels of protection against oral challenge with B. suis.