Eradication of Helicobacter spp. by using medicated diet in mice deficient in functional natural killer cells and complement factor D.
A commercial 4-drug diet has shown promise in eradicating Helicobacter spp. from rodents; however, its effectiveness in immunocompromised mice is unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of this treatment in eradicating Helicobacter spp. from mice deficient in functional natural killer cells (Cd1(-/-)) or complement factor D (Df(-/-)). Cd1(-/-) mice naturally infected with H. hepaticus with or without H. rodentium were fed either control or medicated diet for 8 wk followed by 4 wk on control diet. Fecal samples were PCR-evaluated for Helicobacter spp. before mice began treatment and then every 2 wk thereafter for 12 wk. The same experimental design was repeated for eighteen 9- to 21-wk-old Df(-/-) mice naturally infected with H. bilis with or without H. rodentium. All Df(-/-) mice and 8- to 21-wk-old Cd1(-/-) mice ceased shedding Helicobacter spp. after 2 wk of treatment and remained negative throughout the study. In contrast, the Cd1(-/-) mice that were 24 wk or older shed Helicobacter spp. for the first 8 wk but tested negative at 10 and 12 wk. All treated animals had enlarged ceca and gained less weight than control untreated mice, and 6 of 7 treated Cd1(-/-) male mice developed mild portal fibrosis. These findings show that within 2 wk of treatment, the 4-drug diet eradicated H. hepaticus and H. rodentium from young Cd1(-/-) mice and H. bilis and H. rodentium from Df(-/-) mice, but eradication of established infections in Cd1(-/-) mice required 8 wk of treatment.
Del Carmen Martino-Cardona
Maria
M
Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore Maryland, USA. mmarti81@jhmi.edu
Beck
Sarah E
SE
Brayton
Cory
C
Watson
Julie
J
D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000235:genetics; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011416:Complement Factor D / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000382:microbiology*; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008795:Metronidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin; D011416:Complement Factor D; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole