title: Herpes simplex virus type 2 modulates the susceptibility of human bladder cells to uropathogenic bacteria.
abstract: The present study analyses the susceptibility of human bladder-derived cells (HT-1376) to the infection by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and Chlamydia trachomatis, as well as to the adhesiveness of uropathogenic bacteria. HT-1376 cells were efficiently infected by HSV-2 strain 333, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining of viral antigens, titration of cytopathic effect, and visualisation by transmission electron microscopy. This cell model was also prone to C. trachomatis (serovar E, Bour strain) replication and to the adherence of clinical uropathogenic isolates of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Enterococcus faecalis. The pre-infection of HT-1376 cells with HSV-2 caused a tenfold increased adherence of an E. coli strain (U1), isolated from a patient affected by severe haemorrhagic cystitis, whereas in HSV-2 pre-infected cells the number of C. trachomatis inclusion bodies was significantly reduced. Our findings indicate that these cells are a suitable in vitro model for studying infection and super-infection of the lower urinary tract by viruses and bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrastructure, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. superti@iss.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Superti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Di Biase
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallinelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seganti
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D002277:Carcinoma; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000502:physiology; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000502:physiology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015163:Superinfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D014779:Virus Replication