BR-bodies link RNA homeostasis to stress tolerance and intracellular fitness in Brucella.

BR-bodies in Brucella ovis regulate RNA turnover and virulence pathways, with deletion of the IDR impairing intracellular fitness and stress resistance.

• Why it matters: Understanding how bacterial biomolecular condensates influence infection can reveal new targets for controlling bacterial pathogens, as their role in virulence is largely unknown.
• What they did: The study used in vivo RNA-dependent condensate formation, in vitro phase separation assays, and genetic mutants to analyze BR-body assembly and function, focusing on the IDR of RNase E.
• The result: BR-bodies primarily accelerate mRNA decay and stabilize specific transcripts, including virB type IV secretion system mRNA; disrupting BR-body formation reduces Brucella’s stress resistance and intracellular fitness.