Natural antibody contributes to host defense against an attenuated Brucella abortus virB mutant.

ABSTRACT: Brucella abortus is an intracellular pathogen that persists within phagocytic cells of the reticuloendothelial system. To identify in vivo interactions between B. abortus and the host that lead to persistent infection, we studied the persistence of B. abortus and an isogenic virB mutant deficient in the VirB type IV secretion system (T4SS) in knockout mice. In contrast to control mice, mice lacking B cells (Igh6(-/-)) were permissive for infection with the attenuated virB mutant. To determine the basis for this phenotype, we characterized immune functions of Igh6(-/-) mice in the context of B. abortus infection. Igh6(-/-) mice had greater numbers of extracellular bacteria in the spleen and increased early expression of proinflammatory cytokines during B. abortus infection. Further, a virB

SUBMITTER: Rolan HG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2708545 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature