realized in has disposition at some time agent_in_compromised_process artificially mutated Brucella macrophage - Brucella interaction attenuated disposition mouse - Brucella interaction Brucella intracellular survival Brucella purE mutant MUTATION: Brucella abortus 2308 derivatives with mini-Tn5 insertions in purE, purL, and purD display significant attenuation in the BALBc mouse model. It confirms the importance of the purine biosynthesis pathways for the survival and replication of the brucellae in host macrophages [Ref6485:Alcantara et al., 2004]. The purE mutant has reduced survival in murine macrophages and reduced virulence in mice [Ref6485:Alcantara et al., 2004]. A purE gene deletion mutant (purE201) of B melitensis was constructed as a potentially useful vaccine for humans and animals. At necropsy, bacteria were present in mammary lymph nodes or spleen of 33 of goats given virulent 16M but in none of goats given the purE mutant. The purE mutation of B melitensis 16M was stable and that the vaccine could be differentiated from wild-type strains by hybridization, purine auxotrophy, and kanamycin resistance. Mice clear the identical purE mutant strain from their spleens in only 8 weeks but remain infected with B. melitensis 16M for at least 3 months [Ref6485:Alcantara et al., 2004]. See PMID:15271960 Brucella intracellular replication