Rakovskaya, I.V., Gorina, L.G., Utyusheva, M.G., Goncharova, S.A., Gamova, N.A., Neustroeva, V.V., Levina, G.A.

The mycoplasma infection rate in children with bronchial asthma

Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia

This review focuses on Brucella persistence. Data on Brucella — macrophage interaction and the role of molecular-genetic systems including homologues of Mos operon Rhizobium, a type IV secretion system, a flagellum apparatus and a “quorum sensing” — virulence factors using signal or effector molecules are updated. Brucella enters macrophages through lipid raft microdomains, avoids its bactericidal attacks, phagolysosome fusion, expressing a set of virulence genes and inhibits TNF-alpha secretion and apoptosis for persistence in macroorganisms. Comparative whole-genome microarray analyses reveal genomic islands, limited genome diversity in Brucella species and also alterations and deletions of genes responsible for virulence.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2006, No. 4, P. 72—77