title: Recombinant murine gamma interferon induces enhanced resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection in neonatal mice.
abstract: Neonatal mice within 24 h of birth were highly susceptible to intraperitoneal infection with Listeria monocytogenes. The 50% lethal dose of bacterial cells was 6.3 X 10(1) CFU for neonates and 3.2 X 10(6) CFU for adult mice. A single injection of recombinant murine gamma interferon (rMuIFN-gamma) protected neonatal mice from simultaneous challenge with a lethal dose of L. monocytogenes cells. The rMuIFN-gamma effect was dose dependent: protection was consistently observed in mice treated with rMuIFN-gamma at doses of more than 4 X 10(2) U (0.1 microgram of protein) per mouse. Bacterial growth in the spleens and livers of rMuIFN-gamma-treated neonates was significantly suppressed in comparison with that in the nontreated controls. The infected neonatal mice showed acquired antilisterial resistance against secondary intravenous infection after 4 weeks of age, and this resistance was significantly augmented in mice that had been treated with rMuIFN-gamma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakane
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minagawa
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008087:Listeria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma