Pneumonia due to Chlamydia trachomatis in the immunocompromised (nude) mouse.
Athymic nude mice (nu/nu) were significantly more susceptible to pneumonia due to the agent of mouse pneumonitis (MoPn), Chlamydia trachomatis, than their heterozygous (nu/+) littermates, as judged both by a greater mortality and a decreased ability to rid their lungs of the infection. Nu/nu mice did not produce significant antibody to the MoPn agent, whereas nu/+ mice did. Thymic transplantation rendered nu/nu mice significantly more resistant to the MoPn agent than nu/nu controls. Resistance to the MoPn agent and production of specific antibody to the MoPn agent were dependent on thymus-derived cells.
D000818:Animals; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013934:Thymectomy