title: Serum immunoglobulin response and protection from homologous challenge by Proteus mirabilis in a mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that experimental Proteus mirabilis urinary tract infection in mice would protect against homologous bladder rechallenge. Despite production of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM (median titers of 1:320 and 1:80, respectively), vaccinated (infected and antibiotic-cured) mice did not show a decrease in mortality upon rechallenge; the survivors experienced only modest protection from infection (mean log(10) number of CFU of P. mirabilis Nal(r) HI4320 per milliliter or gram in vaccinated mice versus sham-vaccinated mice: urine, 100-fold less [3.5 versus 5.5; P = 0.13]; bladder, 100-fold less [3.1 versus 5.1; P = 0.066]; kidneys, 40-fold less [2.7 versus 4.3; P = 0.016]). Western blots using protein from the wild-type strain and isogenic mutants demonstrated antibody responses to MR/P and PMF fimbriae and flagella. There was no correlation between serum IgG or IgM levels and protection from mortality or infection. There was a trend toward elevated serum IgA titers and protection from subsequent challenge (P >/= 0.09), although only a few mice developed significant serum IgA levels. We conclude that prior infection with P. mirabilis does not protect significantly against homologous challenge.
authors.affiliation: Research Service, VA Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. dejohnso@umaryland.edu
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Bahrani
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Lockatell
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Drachenberg
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hebel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belas
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Mobley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D011512:Proteus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000276:immunology*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007136:Immunoglobulins