Brucella melitensis (B. melitensis)

Brucella melitensis is a Gram-negative, facultative intracellular coccobacillus and the primary causative agent of human brucellosis, a zoonotic disease primarily transmitted from sheep and goats (StatPearls, 2023). It is recognized as the most virulent species within the Brucella genus, capable of invading and replicating within host macrophages to establish chronic, systemic infections (NCBI, 2022). The bacterium employs sophisticated immune evasion strategies, such as utilizing a non-canonical lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that poorly activates the innate immune system, allowing it to bypass initial detection (PubMed, 2021). Clinical symptoms often include undulant fever, malaise, and potential complications like endocarditis or osteomyelitis (CDC, 2021). Therapeutic intervention typically involves long-term combination antibiotic regimens, such as doxycycline and rifampin, to effectively reach the intracellular bacteria and reduce high relapse rates (WHO, 2020). Due to its high infectivity and potential for aerosol transmission, it is also classified as a Tier 1 select agent and a potential biothreat (NIH, 2022).

Other names

Malta fever bacteriumMediterranean fever bacteriumBrucella melitensis (bacterium)

Antibiotics targeting Brucella melitensis typically inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S or 50S ribosomal subunits, inhibit RNA synthesis by targeting DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, or inhibit DNA replication by targeting DNA gyrase (StatPearls, 2023).