Pathogenesis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Strain 86-24 Following Oral Infection of BALB/c Mice with an Intact Commensal Flora
Abstract
Escherichia coli 0 157:H7 is a food-borne pathogen that can cause hemorrhagic colitis and. occasionally. hemolytic uremic syndrome, a sequela of infection that can result in renal failure and death. Here we sought to model the pathogenesis of orally-administered E. coli 0157:H7 in BALB/c mice with an intact intestinal nora. First. we defined the optimal dose that permitted sustained fecal shedding of E. coli 0157:H7 over 7 days ( -109 colony forming units). Next. we monitored the load of E. coli 0157:H7 in intestinal sections over time and observed that the cecum was consistently the tissue with the highest E. coli 0157: H7 recovery. We then followed the expression of two key E. coli 0 157:H7 virulence factors. the adhesin intimin and Shiga toxin type 2, and detected both proteins early in infection when bacterial burdens were highest. Additionally, we noted that during infection, animals lost weight and - 30% died. Moribund animals also exhibited elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen. and. on necropsy, showed evidence of renal tubular damage. We conclude that conventional mice inoculated orally with high doses of E. coli 0 157:H7 can be used to model both intestinal colonization and subsequent development of certain extraintestinal manifestations of E. coli 0157:H7 disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA551558
Entities
People
- Alison D. O'brien
- Angela R. Melton-celsa
- Erica E. Carroll
- Krystle L. Mohawk
- Tonia Zangari
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center