Nasal infection with virulent B. melitensis 16M minimally impacted brucellae colonization of the lungs and spleen 4 weeks post-infection of IL-17RA−/− and IL-23p19−/− mice, but did enable greater colonization of the lungs at 5 and 12 days post-infection of IL-17RA−/− mice. The gene discussed is IL17RA; the disease is infection.