Brucella abortus S19

Brucella_abortus
Names Brucella abortus S19
Accession numbers NC_010740, NC_010742
Background The genus Brucella is comprised mostly of mammalian pathogens, which due to their low infectious does, aerosol transmission and treatment difficulty are classified as potential bioterrorism agents. Brucella abortus (strain S19) is a spontaneously attenuated strain discovered by Dr. John Buck in 1923. However, the underlying molecular or physiological mechanisms causing the loss of virulence is not well understood. B. abortus is the primary cause of bovine brucellosis, which results in enormous (billions of dollars) economic losses due primarily to reproductive failure and food losses. It is highly infectious, and can be spread through contact with infected animal products or through the air, making them a potential bioterrorism agent. In man, it causes undulant fever, a long debilitating disease that is treated by protracted administration of antibiotics. Since early 1930s, this strain has been used worldwide as an effective vaccine to prevent brucellosis in cattle until it was replaced by strain RB51 during the 1990s. Once the organism has entered the body, it can become intracellular, and enter the blood and lymphatic regions, multiplying inside phagocytes before eventually causing bacteremia (spread of bacteria through the blood). Virulence may depend on a type IV secretion system which may promote intracellular growth by secreting important effector molecules. (EBI Integr8)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Bacteria
Phylum:Proteobacteria
Class:Alphaproteobacteria
Order:Rhizobiales
Family:Brucellaceae
Genus:Brucella
Species:abortus
Strain S19
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (07-NOV-2007) Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Washington St, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
(22-MAY-2008) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method Sanger, 454
Isolation site Milk of American Jersey Cattle by Dr. John Buck in 1923
Isolation country USA
Number of replicons 2
Gram staining properties Negative
Shape Bacilli
Mobility No
Flagellar presence No
Number of membranes 2
Oxygen requirements Facultative
Optimal temperature 37.0
Temperature range Mesophilic
Habitat Multiple
Biotic relationship Free living
Host name Homo sapiens
Cell arrangement NA
Sporulation Nonsporulating
Metabolism NA
Energy source NA
Diseases Spontaneous abortion
Pathogenicity Yes