title: A severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model for infection with Entamoeba histolytica.
abstract: We used severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice to study resistance to invasive infection with Entamoeba histolytica. Seven of seven SCID mice developed liver abscesses when challenged intrahepatically with virulent HM1:IMSS strain E. histolytica trophozoites. Only one of seven similarly challenged immunocompetent congenic C.B-17 mice developed an abscess. Adoptive transfer of polyclonal rabbit anti-E. histolytica antiserum, but not preimmune rabbit serum, completely protected 7 of 12 SCID mice from intrahepatic challenge with ameba. These results demonstrate that lymphocyte-based immunity is important in protection against amebic liver abscess, and that anti-E. histolytica antibody can protect against amebic infection in this system. The SCID mouse may provide a powerful model for studying the components of protective immunity to invasive amebiasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cieslak
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Virgin
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D014774:Virulence