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Cryptosporidium parvum infection in gene-targeted B cell-deficient mice
Wangxue Chen1, James A Harp, Allen G Harmsen
1Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Canada K1A 0R6. wangxue.chen@nrc.ca
Abstract:
The importance of B cells in host resistance to, and recovery from, Cryptosporidium parvum infection was examined in gene-targeted B cell-deficient (muMT-/-) mice. Neonatal muMT-/- mice infected with C. parvum at 5 days of age completely cleared the infection by day 20 PI. The kinetics of infection and clearance were similar to those seen with age-matched C57BL/6 control mice. Furthermore, B cells were not required to clear existing C. parvum infection in adult mice. Reconstitution of persistently infected Rag-1-/- adult mice with spleen cells from muMT-/- donor mice resulted in significant reduction of infection, as in the results seen with spleen cells from C57BL6 donors. These findings indicate clearly that B cells are not essential for host resistance to, and recovery from, C. parvum infection in mice.
Insights
B cells are not essential for clearing Cryptosporidium parvum infections. Gene-targeted B cell-deficient mice and control mice showed similar infection clearance, indicating B cells play no critical role in recovery.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Cryptosporidium parvum is an opportunistic pathogen causing significant gastrointestinal illness.
- The role of B cells in host defense against parasitic infections is complex and warrants further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the necessity of B cells for host resistance and recovery from Cryptosporidium parvum infection in mice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized gene-targeted B cell-deficient (muMT-/-) mice and C57BL/6 control mice.
- Infected neonatal and adult mice with C. parvum to assess infection kinetics and clearance.
- Adoptive transfer experiments using spleen cells from muMT-/- and C57BL/6 donors into Rag-1-/- mice.
Main Results:
- Neonatal B cell-deficient mice completely cleared C. parvum infection similarly to controls.
- B cells were not required for clearing existing C. parvum infections in adult mice.
- Spleen cells from B cell-deficient donors reduced infection in Rag-1-/- mice, comparable to control spleen cells.
Conclusions:
- B cells are not essential for host resistance to or recovery from C. parvum infection in mice.
- Other immune components likely mediate effective clearance of this parasite.