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Related Experiment Videos

Denitrification genes regulate Brucella virulence in mice.

Seung-Hun Baek1, Gireesh Rajashekara, Gary A Splitter

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Wing Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-8101, USA.

Journal of Bacteriology
|September 3, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Brucella neotomae is a partial denitrifier due to gene deletions, unlike related species. Restoring denitrification genes in B. neotomae altered mouse survival rates after infection.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Animal Pathogens

Background:

  • Brucella species cause zoonotic brucellosis worldwide.
  • Brucella suis and B. melitensis are complete denitrifiers.
  • The role of denitrification in B. neotomae, a related pathogen, was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the denitrification capabilities of Brucella neotomae.
  • To understand the genetic basis for B. neotomae's denitrification phenotype.
  • To assess the impact of denitrification on B. neotomae's virulence.

Main Methods:

  • Genome sequencing of B. neotomae.
  • Analysis of denitrification gene clusters (nirV, nirK, nnrA, nor operon).
  • Gene complementation studies and promoter-reporter assays (lacZ fusions).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Infection studies in IRF-1 knockout mice.

    • Main Results:

    • B. neotomae is a partial denitrifier, reducing nitrate to nitrite but not further.
    • Gene deletions in B. neotomae resulted in loss of nirV and partial loss of nirK and nnrA.
    • NnrA inactivation prevented nor operon expression, while narK-lacZ showed nitrate-dependent expression.
    • Complementation restored nitrite reduction, and altered mouse survival rates.

    Conclusions:

    • Genetic defects in the denitrification pathway explain B. neotomae's partial denitrifier phenotype.
    • Denitrification plays a role in the virulence of Brucella pathogens.
    • Targeting denitrification pathways could be a strategy for controlling brucellosis.