Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
An Experimental Model to Study Tuberculosis-Malaria Coinfection upon Natural Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium berghei
Published on: February 17, 2014
[Creation of a controlled model of respiratory mycoplasmosis]
N A Zigangirova1, O Ch Khoĭkova, O I Barkhatova
1Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia.
Abstract:
To create the controlled model of respiratory mecoplasmosis, laboratory animals with induced immunodefeciency were infected with M. pneumoniae strain having different degrees of virulence. Immunodeficient state was induced in susceptible animals (hamsters) by the injection of cyclophosphamide. The infection of immunodeficient animals with a virulent strain induced the development of severe manifest pneumonia with 50% mortality rate. The infection of the animals with induced immunodeficiency with the avirulent strain attenuated in the process of 10-year subculturing in acellular media led to the development of moderate pneumonia characterized by the proliferation of the infective agent in pulmonary tissues and the presence of pathomorphological changes. The simultaneous infection of control hamsters with the same strain did not induce the development of infection. The infection of the experimental animals with the avirulent strain in the presence of induced immunodeficiency resulted in the partial restoration of the virulent properties of the strain, which was manifested by the activation of the capacity of the infective agent for colonization and proliferation in body tissues of the animals.
Insights
Creating a controlled model for respiratory Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in immunodeficient hamsters revealed that avirulent strains can regain virulence, causing moderate pneumonia and tissue changes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes respiratory infections.
- Controlled models are crucial for studying pathogenesis.
- Immunodeficiency can alter infection outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a controlled model of respiratory mycoplasmosis.
- To investigate the virulence of M. pneumoniae in immunodeficient hosts.
- To assess the impact of host immunity on M. pneumoniae strain properties.
Main Methods:
- Inducing immunodeficiency in hamsters using cyclophosphamide.
- Infecting immunodeficient and control hamsters with virulent and avirulent M. pneumoniae strains.
- Evaluating pneumonia development, mortality rates, and pathomorphological changes.
Main Results:
- Virulent M. pneumoniae caused severe pneumonia and 50% mortality in immunodeficient hamsters.
- Avirulent M. pneumoniae induced moderate pneumonia with tissue changes in immunodeficient hamsters.
- Avirulent M. pneumoniae did not cause infection in immunocompetent hamsters, but regained virulence in immunodeficient hosts.
Conclusions:
- Induced immunodeficiency in hamsters provides a viable model for respiratory mycoplasmosis.
- Host immune status significantly influences M. pneumoniae virulence and disease severity.
- Avirulent M. pneumoniae strains can restore virulence in an immunodeficient environment.
