Transfer of human membrane surface components by incorporating human cells into intact animal tissue by cell-tissue electrofusion in vivo.
Current animal models employed for the study of the obligate human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae fail to utilize specific human gonococcal attachment receptors required to initiate pathogenesis in a clinically meaningful way. This communication presents evidence that suggests that cell-tissue electrofusion may be employed to create an animal model for this human specific pathogen. This new biotechnology was used to incorporate human membrane gonococcal receptors directly into epithelium of laboratory animals and subsequently infecting the histologically modified tissue with N. gonorrhoeae strain Pgh 3-2.
Heller
R
R
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612.
Grasso
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003315:Cornea; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae; D011817:Rabbits
D008565:Membrane Proteins