First Genome-Scale Metabolic Modeling ofBrucella abortusPredicts Pathogen Gene Essentiality and New Drug Target

Abstract

AbstractBovine brucellosis, a globally widespread disease, imposes substantial economic burdens on livestock production. The pathogen,Brucella abortus, has a particular affinity for infecting cattle and can also impact humans, potentially posing a public health risk in regions where the disease persists. To gain a deeper understanding of the pathogen’s biology and its interactions with the host, Pathogen-specific Genome-Scale Metabolic Models offer valuable insights. They aid in identifying novel pharmacological targets and biomarkers, which can inform innovative brucellosis control strategies. In this study, we developed and validated the first Genome-Scale Metabolic Model ofB. abortus2308, named iBP932, encompassing 932 genes, 1,140 reactions, and 999 metabolites. Furthermore, iBP932 capability to predict potential drug targets was demonstrated.