A modified ex vivo human whole blood model of infection for studying the pathogenesis of Neisseria meningitidis during septicemia.
For the purpose of establishing a model to study host-bacteria interaction and virulence mechanisms of Neisseria meningitidis during the septic phase of disease a modified human whole blood model of infection is proposed. Compared to published whole blood models the current model was modified with respect to the initial number of viable bacteria (10(4) cfu ml(-1)), the anticoagulant used and the incubation time. The results obtained after incubation of a number of human blood samples from healthy volunteers for 24 h with serogroup B meningococci were in good agreement with findings reported from patients who suffered severe meningococcal disease.
Nolte
Oliver
O
Hygiene Institut, Abteilung Hygiene and Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany. oliver_nolte@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Rickert
Alexander
A
Ehrhard
Ingrid
I
Ledig
Sandra
S
Sonntag
Hans Günter
HG
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*
D016207:Cytokines