title: Development and evaluation of an improved mouse model of meningococcal colonization.
abstract: Studies of meningococcal pathogenesis have been severely restricted due to the absence of an adequate animal model. Given the significance of iron in meningococcal pathogenesis, we developed a model of Neisseria meningitidis colonization in outbred adult mice that included daily administration of iron dextran. While receiving iron, the animals were inoculated intranasally with the initial doses of bacterial suspension. Meningococci were recovered from the animals by nasopharyngeal washes. Approximately half of the animals inoculated with 10(7) CFU remained colonized 13 days after the initial bacterial inoculation. The model was further evaluated with genetically defined isogenic serogroup B mutant strains, and the colonization capabilities of the mutants were compared to that of the wild-type parent. A mutant that produces truncated lipooligosaccharide (KDO(2)-lipid A) and a mutant defective in capsule transport were dramatically impaired in colonization. A mutant defective in pilus transport (pilQ) showed moderately impaired colonization. The immunological aspect of the model was also evaluated by challenging mice after immunization with homologous whole-cell meningococci. The immunized mice were protected from colonization of the homologous strain. In this model, long-term meningococcal colonization was maintained, allowing us to study the effects of specific genetic mutation on colonization. In addition, this model allows investigation of the role of active immune response against meningococci.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. kyi@emory.edu
authors.forename: Kyungcheol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stojiljkovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex