title: Ex vivo bioluminescence imaging of late gestation ewes following intrauterine inoculation with lux-modified Escherichia coli.
abstract: Our objectives were to develop an ovine model for Escherichia coli-induced preterm delivery, and monitor E. coli (lux modified for photonic detection) invasion of the fetal environment--ewes (124+/-18d of gestation) received intrauterine inoculations using E. coli-lux as follows: control (n = 5), 1.2 x 10(6) CFU/ml (n = 5), 5.6 x 10(6) CFU/ml (n = 5) E. coli-lux. Preterm delivery occurred between 48 and 120 h post-inoculation in 60%, 60% of ewes infected with 1.2, and 5.6 x 10(6) CFU/ml E. coli-lux, respectively, with presence of emitting bacteria confirmed by real-time imaging of lamb tissues. In summary, preterm delivery and/or fetal distress were observed in a majority of inoculated ewes. Finally, the use of photonic bacteria with imaging was a feasible means to monitor bacterial presence ex vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hopper
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klauser
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodts-Palenik
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D008156:Luciferases