<b>The arginine/ornithine binding protein ArgT plays an essential role in </b><b><i>Brucella</i></b><b> to prevent intracellular killing and contribute</b><b> to chronic persistence in the host</b>

The research article describes, arginine/ornithine binding protein, ArgT plays an essential role in the survival of the infectious intracellular bacterial pathogen <i>Brucella melitensis</i> in macrophages and mice. The highlights of our findings are as follows:-· Deletion of <i>ArgT</i> from <i>B. melitensis</i> resulted in its attenuation in macrophages, which was restored upon complementation with the <i>ArgT</i> expression plasmid.· Macrophages infected with Δ<i>ArgT</i>-<i>Brucella</i> produced elevated levels of nitric oxide due to the inability of Δ<i>ArgT</i> <i>Brucella</i> to deplete the host intracellular arginine through its importer.·<i>Brucella</i> infection upregulated the host arginine transporter, CAT2B expression in the macrophages.· A defective survival of Δ<i>ArgT B. melitensis</i> was observed in the infected mice, which correlated with enhanced nitric oxide production in the mice.Our studies revealed that <i>ArgT</i> in <i>Brucella</i> plays a vital role in preventing intracellular killing and contributing to the chronic persistence of <i>Brucella</i> in the host. Our study highlights the essential role of arginine in clearing intracellular infections and subversion of this host defense by intracellular pathogens for their chronic persistence.This information will help to develop improved preventive and therapeutic strategies for brucellosis.<br>