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Quantitative analysis of Helicobacter pylori infection in a mouse model
L E Smythies1, J A Chen, J R Lindsey
1Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Abstract:
Progress in elucidating the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori gastric infection and in developing an H. pylori vaccine will be aided by an animal model in which H. pylori can be reliably detected. To validate the use of the mouse model of H. pylori infection, we determined the susceptibility of three inbred strains of mice (C57BL/6J, C57BL/10J and BALB/c) to two VacA+/CagA+ isolates of H. pylori (SPM326 and M1.16) and determined the effectiveness of microbiological, histological and molecular assays for H. pylori detection. For the detection of H. pylori in inoculated mice, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was the most sensitive assay (82%), histological evaluation the next most sensitive (66%) and microbiological evaluation the least sensitive (38%); the assays were equally specific (100%). Of the two H. pylori isolates, M1.16 showed the highest rate of colonization, but SPM326 displayed the highest rate of persistent infection. Among the three mouse strains, C57BL/6J mice showed the highest level of both susceptibility to colonization and persistent infection. Anti-H. pylori antibody responses were induced in all inoculated mice and persisted for up to 8 weeks after H. pylori clearance. These results indicate that inbred mice experimentally infected with H. pylori is a reliable model for human infection, but host susceptibility to colonization and persistence of infection are dependent on the H. pylori isolate and the mouse strain.
Insights
A mouse model reliably detects Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. C57BL/6J mice and specific H. pylori strains showed higher susceptibility, aiding vaccine development.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Pathogenesis
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection causes gastric diseases.
- Developing an H. pylori vaccine requires a reliable animal model.
- Understanding H. pylori pathogenesis is crucial for effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate a mouse model for H. pylori infection studies.
- To assess the susceptibility of different mouse strains to H. pylori.
- To compare the effectiveness of various detection assays for H. pylori.
Main Methods:
- Experimental infection of three inbred mouse strains (C57BL/6J, C57BL/10J, BALB/c) with two H. pylori isolates (SPM326, M1.16).
- Evaluation of microbiological, histological, and molecular (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) assays for H. pylori detection.
- Assessment of H. pylori colonization, persistence, and host antibody responses.
Main Results:
- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was the most sensitive assay (82%) for H. pylori detection.
- C57BL/6J mice exhibited the highest susceptibility to H. pylori colonization and persistent infection.
- H. pylori isolate SPM326 showed higher persistence, while M1.16 demonstrated greater colonization rates.
Conclusions:
- Inbred mice experimentally infected with H. pylori provide a reliable model for studying gastric infection.
- Host susceptibility to H. pylori colonization and infection persistence depends on both the H. pylori isolate and the mouse strain.
- This validated model will aid in elucidating H. pylori pathogenesis and advancing H. pylori vaccine development.