Cell-mediated immunity in human brucellosis

Brucella can parasitize within human antigen-presenting cells modifying phagocytosis, phagolysosome fusion, antigen presentation, cytokine secretion, and apoptosis. Subversion of innate immune mechanisms by Brucella leads to defective Th1 immune responses and T-cell anergy in chronic brucellosis patients. This review summarizes the cellular immune responses in brucellosis, based on data derived exclusively from human cells or cell lines.