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Brucella spp. - Emerging Insights Into Virulence Strategies: T4SS, CβG, Intracellular Replication, and Beyond

delete2026-03-30
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PRE
AI
M
Manickam, Kokila
K
Kannan, Suganya *
DOI:10.1002/jobm.70167delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Brucellosis, caused by Brucella species, is a major zoonotic disease with substantial public health and veterinary impact worldwide. This review provides an integrated overview of key virulence mechanisms employed by Brucella, with emphasis on the VirB Type IV secretion system (T4SS), cyclic beta-1,2-glucans (C beta G), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the bacterium's intracellular replication cycle. These factors enable the pathogen to evade host immune recognition, remodel intracellular compartments, and maintain long-term survival in diverse tissues. Building on recent advances, we propose a functional hierarchy of VirB T4SS effectors that distinguishes core components required for intracellular persistence from context-dependent effectors that modulate tissue specificity and disease severity. By linking VirB T4SS activity with C beta G-driven alterations of phagosomal trafficking and LPS-mediated dampening of Toll-like receptor 4 signaling, we outline a multilayered model of immune escape and chronic infection. On this basis, we identify non-redundant T4SS effectors, C beta G biosynthetic enzymes and defined LPS modifications as priority candidates for the development of targeted diagnostics, host-directed or anti-virulence therapies, and next-generation vaccines against brucellosis.
Keywords:
2-glucans
Brucella
brucellosis
chronic infection
cyclic beta-1
immune evasion
intracellular replication
lipopolysaccharide
VirB Type IV secretion system

Journal

Journal of Basic Microbiology cover
Journal of Basic Microbiology
IF:
2.7
Papers:
2.7K
Citations:
4.8K

Organization

V
Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation
Scholars:
183
Papers: 98
Citations: 0