title: Novel Approach for Evaluation ofBacteroides fragilisProtective Role againstBartonella henselaeLiver Damage in Immunocompromised Murine Model.
abstract: Bartonella henselaeis a gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium and is the causative agent of cat-scratch disease. Our previous data have established thatBacteroides fragiliscolonization is able to preventB. henselaedamages through the polysaccharide A (PSA) in an experimental murine model. In order to determine whether the PSA is essential for the protection against pathogenic effects ofB. henselaein immunocompromised hosts, SCID mice were co-infected withB. fragiliswild type or its mutantB. fragilisΔPSA and the effects of infection on murine tissues have been observed by High-Frequency Ultrasound (HFUS), histopathological examination, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). For the first time, echostructure, hepatic lobes length, vascular alterations, and indirect signs of hepatic dysfunctions, routinely used as signs of disease in humans, have been analyzed in an immunocompromised murine model. Our findings showed echostructural alterations in all infected mice compared with the Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS) control group; further, those infected withB. henselaeand co-infected withB. henselae/B. fragilisΔPSA presented the major echostructural alterations. Half of the mice infected withB. henselaeand all those co-infected withB. henselae/B. fragilisΔPSA have showed an altered hepatic echogenicity compared with the renal cortex. The echogenicity score of co-infected mice withB. henselae/B. fragilisΔPSA differed significantly compared with the PBS control group (p < 0.05). Moreover the inflammation score of the histopathological evaluation was fairly concordant with ultrasound findings. Ultrastructural analysis performed by TEM revealed no significant alterations in liver samples of SCID mice infected withB. fragiliswild type while those infected withB. fragilisΔPSA showed the presence of collagen around the main vessels compared with the PBS control group. The liver samples of mice infected withB. henselaeshowed macro-areas rich in collagen, stellate cells, and histiocytic cells. Interestingly, our data demonstrated that immunocompromised SCID mice infected withB. henselaeand co-infected withB. henselae/B. fragilisΔPSA showed the most severe morpho-structural liver damage. In addition, these results suggests that the HFUS together with histopathological evaluation could be considered good imaging approach to evaluate hepatic alterations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical SchoolNaples, Italy; CEINGE-Advanced BiotechnologiesNaples, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagliuca
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Annunziata G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cicatiello
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colicchio
authors.affiliation: CEINGE-Advanced BiotechnologiesNaples, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Federico II University Medical SchoolNaples, Italy; Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research CouncilNaples, Italy.
authors.forename: Adelaide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Raimondo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerciello
authors.affiliation: IRCCS SDN Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Auletta
authors.affiliation: CEINGE-Advanced BiotechnologiesNaples, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Federico II University Medical SchoolNaples, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albanese
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scaglione
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagliarulo
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabiria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Federico II University Medical School Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gelsomina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mansueto
authors.affiliation: CEINGE-Advanced BiotechnologiesNaples, Italy; Department of Advanced Biomedical Science, Federico II University Medical SchoolNaples, Italy; Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research CouncilNaples, Italy.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Bice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Avallone
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical SchoolNaples, Italy; CEINGE-Advanced BiotechnologiesNaples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvatore
keywords: Bacteroides fragilis; Bartonella henselae; HFUS; Histological examination; Imaging; PSA; SCID mice; TEM