Aromatic Compound-Dependent Brucella suis Is Attenuated in Both Cultured Cells and Mouse Models

Abstract
The aroC gene of the facultative intracellular pathogenBrucella suis was cloned and sequenced. The clonedaroC gene complements Escherichia coli andSalmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium aroCmutants. A B. suis aroC mutant was found to be unable to grow in a defined medium without aromatic compounds. The mutant was highly attenuated in tissue culture (THP1 macrophages and HeLa cells) and murine virulence models.