2 Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery, 2013, Vol. 8, No. 1
Editorial
Editorial Human Brucellosis: Importance of Brucellosis Brucellosis is one of the important zoonotic diseases. The etiologic agent is Brucella species and currently known Brucella species are B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis, B. canis, B. neotomae, B. ovis recently recognized new species are; Brucella ceti, Brucella pinnipedialis, Brucella microti and Brucella inopinata. Classical Brucella species are B. melitensis, and B. ovis causes abortion in sheep and goats, B. abortus in cows, B. suis in pigs and B. canis in canines. Other species are also isolated from wild life, and marine mammals [1, 2]. Brucellosis is transmitted from animals to humans by direct contact with infected animals and consuming infected animal products, particularly dairy products [3, 4]. Although brucellosis is one of the historical diseases, it is still considered as a worldwide zoonotic disease. Brucella species cause an infection in both animals and humans and lead to economical lost by affecting both humans and animals health. The epidemiology of zoonoses is very complex and dynamic. Many parameters affect the epidemiology that can be pathogenrelated, human-related, and climate/environmental-related. Human related factors for brucellosis might be infrastructure of animal care, food importation, and travel to endemic areas and uncontrolled migration from endemic country to industrial countries. The effects of climate changes or variability are not evaluated for brucella infections. Today, brucellosis may be a global issue because it is not only an endemic disease in developing countries but also the etiologic agent of brucellosis which potentially may be used as an agent of bioterrorism [5, 6]. Although brucellosis is a notifiable disease in most countries, it is believed that the number of reported cases remain in the estimated numbers. The disease is still endemic in some part of the world, particularly in Mediterranean Countries, Central Asia, India, northern and eastern Africa, Mexico and Central and South America. Annually, more than 500.000 new human cases are recorded worldwide [3, 7]. Brucella spp. is a highly infectious agent spreads through aerosol route. This feature makes Brucella spp. as a potential agent for biological warfare purposes. Public health programs of those countries which are free from animal brucellosis may consider agro-terrorism and develop strategies against bioterrorism [6]. Recently, many studies on bioterrorism have been concentrated on appropriate sampling of Brucella spp. from environment, finding ways for its early detection, and the development of new decontamination procedures, new drugs and vaccines. A number of studies have also received patents [8-13]. Brucella infection initiates insidiously in human and leads to a systemic disease and some times local infections. Clinical presentations may be acute or chronic and mimic many diseases. The diagnosis of the disease is difficult particularly in settings with low endemicity. Recently, many studies were released on pathogenesis, clinical presentation, bacteriologic diagnosis of brucellosis, and vaccine development. Some of these studies have patented [14, 15]. Currently many antibiotics are being used in the therapy, but there are no any new antibiotics for treatment. For the control of infection, application of vaccine and other control measurements are very important. Although, many extensive studies on brucella vaccine are present, there is no any available vaccine for human in practice. A special issue of “Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery” is devoted to Brucellosis. The expert authors on brucellosis updated the current situation and reviewed the patents in brucellosis and make a projection for the future. REFERENCES [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Euzéby JP. List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature - Genus Brucella. Available at: http://www.bacterio.cict.fr/b/brucella.html (Accessed on: March 21, 2012). Purcell BK, Hoover DL, Friedlander AM. Brucellosis. In: Lenhart MK, Lounesbury DE, Martin JM 8eds). Medical Aspect of Biological Warfare, Textbook of Military Medicine, Washington, DC: Office of The Surgeon General, US Army, 2007: 186-198. Doganay M, Aygen B. Human brucellosis: An overview. Int J Infect Dis 2003; 7: 173-82. Corbel MJ, Alton GG, Ariza J, Banai M, Cosivi O, Diaz R, et al. Brucellosis in humans and animals. World Health Organization: Geneva, 2006. Pappas G, Panagopoulou P, Christou L, Akritidis N. Brucella as a biological weapon. Cell Mol Life Sci 2006; 63: 2229-36. Gyles C. Agroterrorism. Can Vet J 2010; 51: 347-8. Pappas G, Papadimitriou P, Akriditis N, christou L, sianos EV. The new global map of human brucellosis. Lancet Infect Dis 2006; 6: 91-9. Edward, A., Scott, A.D., Zachary, P., Pamela, M., Alec, A. Surface sampler for bioterrorism particl detection. US2010313686A1 (2010). Srinagesh, S., Sulatha, D. Method and apparatus for low quantity detection of bioparticles in small sample volumes. WO2007044029 (2007). Seung-Hun, H., Hyun, P.T., Tae-Hyun, K., Hun, L.S. Olfactory recepror-functionalized transistors for highly selectie bioelectronic nose and biosensor using the same. US2011059544 (2011).
Human Brucellosis [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
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Grote, G. Test kit for detecting Brucella species, potential biological warfare agents, in the environment, comprises primers for specific amplication, optionally also hybridization probe. DE10261468A1 (2004). Cherwonogrodzky, J.W., Wong, J.P., Di Ninno, V.L. Polysaccharide vaccine to enhance immunity against brucellosis. US5951987 (1999) Nikolich, M.P., Hoover, D.L., Warren, R.L., Lindler, L.E., Hadfield, T.L., Schuring, G.G., Boyle, S.W., McOulston, J.R., Sriranganathan, N. Live vaccine against Brucellosis. US6444445B2 (2002). Katunina, L.S., Ljamkin, G.I., Tsygankova, R.E., Dal'vadjants, V.G., Smirnova, E.B., Startseva, O.L., Borzdova, I.J.U., Pagov, Z.H.A., Golovneva, S.I. Liquid nutrient medium for culturing Brucella. RU2238973C1 (2004). McCready, P.M., Radnedge, L., Andersen, G.L., Ott, L.L., Slezak, T.R., Kuczmarski, T,A. Nucleotide sequences specific to Brucella and methods for the detection of Brucella. US7494773 (2009).
Mehmet Doganay Guest Editor Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey. E-mail:
[email protected]
