Gene Expression Profiling of <i>Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis </i>under Host Cell Stress in Caseous Lymphadenitis

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is a bacterium that causes Caseous Lymphadenitis (CLA) in goats and sheep. It is a chronic infectious disease that affects meat, milk, and wool production in several countries. CLA has no effective treatment, highlighting the vaccination schedule as the best control strategy. Uncovering the antigenic properties of proteins may provide valuable insights into pathogenicity, as well as factors associated with the antimicrobial resistance of C. pseudotuberculosis. These proteins are displayed on the cell surface, and in bacteria, their exposure is continuous, intensifying markedly under stress. Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) have been shown to play an important role in increasing microbial resistance under stress conditions during infection. In addition, they are immunologically important and recognized by the host, therefore capable of inducing a strong cellular and humoral immune response in mammals. HSPs are highly immunogenic dominant bacterial antigens identified during the infection cycle and can be used as vaccine components or, due to their properties, as carriers of other antigens. This review reveals a profile of potential transcriptional genes involved in the resistance and adaptability of C. pseudotuberculosis to adverse conditions imposed by the host’s immune system. Strains of C. pseudotuberculosis can alter gene expression as a form of adaptation to cellular stress conditions, possibly encoding proteins associated with bacterial survival in hostile environments. Understanding these genes may provide insights into the pathogenicity and virulence of this bacterium and support their use as targets for treatment and vaccine development in future studies.