Noncapsulated toxinogenic Bacillus anthracis presents a specific growth and dissemination pattern in naive and protective antigen-immune mice.
Bacillus anthracis is a spore-forming bacterium that causes anthrax. B. anthracis has three major virulence factors, namely, lethal toxin, edema toxin, and a poly-gamma-D-glutamic acid capsule. The toxins modulate host immune responses, and the capsule inhibits phagocytosis. With the goal of increasing safety, decreasing security concerns, and taking advantage of mammalian genetic tools and reagents, mouse models of B. anthracis infection have been developed using attenuated bacteria that produce toxins but no capsule. While these models have been useful in studying both toxinogenic infections and antitoxin vaccine efficacy, we questioned whether eliminating the capsule changed bacterial growth and dissemination characteristics. Thus, the progression of infection by toxinogenic noncapsulated B. anthracis was analyzed and compared to that by previously reported nontoxinogenic capsulated bacteria, using in vivo bioluminescence imaging. The influence of immunization with the toxin component protective antigen (PA) on the development of infection was also examined. The toxinogenic noncapsulated bacteria were initially confined to the cutaneous site of infection. Bacteria then progressed to the draining lymph nodes and, finally, late in the infection, to the lungs, kidneys, and frequently the gastrointestinal tract. There was minimal colonization of the spleen. PA immunization reduced bacterial growth from the outset and limited infection to the site of inoculation. These in vivo observations show that dissemination by toxinogenic noncapsulated strains differs markedly from that by nontoxinogenic capsulated strains. Additionally, PA immunization counters bacterial growth and dissemination in vivo from the onset of infection.
Glomski
Ian J
IJ
Unité des Toxines et Pathogénie Bactérienne, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr. Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Corre
Jean-Philippe
JP
Mock
Michèle
M
Goossens
Pierre L
PL
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C030325:anthrax toxin