Brucella suis urease and its role in infection
Author Information
Author(s): Bandara Aloka B, Contreras Andrea, Contreras-Rodriguez Araceli, Martins Ana M, Dobrean Victor, Poff-Reichow Sherry, Rajasekaran Parthiban, Sriranganathan Nammalwar, Schurig Gerhardt G, Boyle Stephen M
Primary Institution: Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Hypothesis
The study investigates the role of the two Brucella suis urease operons on infection, intracellular persistence, growth, and resistance to low-pH killing.
Conclusion
The ure1 operon is necessary for optimal growth, urease activity, resistance against low-pH killing, and in vivo persistence of B. suis when inoculated by gavage.
Supporting Evidence
- Strains lacking ure1 showed no urease activity even after 96 hours.
- The ure1 operon is crucial for growth and survival in acidic conditions.
- Infection by gavage showed that ure1 mutants were cleared from the host more rapidly than wild-type strains.
Takeaway
The ure1 part of the bacteria helps it grow well and survive in acidic environments, while the ure2 part seems less important.
Methodology
The study involved generating mutant strains of B. suis and testing their growth, urease activity, and survival in BALB/c mice under various conditions.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on specific strains and conditions, which may not represent all scenarios of Brucella infection.
Participant Demographics
BALB/c mice were used for in vivo experiments.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website