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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
A Mouse Model to Assess Innate Immune Response to Staphylococcus aureus Infection
Published on: February 28, 2019
Mannose-binding lectin-deficient mice are susceptible to infection with Staphylococcus aureus
Lei Shi1, Kazue Takahashi, Joseph Dundee
1Laboratory of Developmental Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, JRG 1402, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Abstract:
Gram-positive organisms like Staphylococcus aureus are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Humoral response molecules together with phagocytes play a role in host responses to S. aureus. The mannose-binding lectin (MBL, also known as mannose-binding protein) is an oligomeric serum molecule that recognizes carbohydrates decorating a broad range of infectious agents including S. aureus. Circumstantial evidence in vitro and in vivo suggests that MBL plays a key role in first line host defense. We tested this contention directly in vivo by generating mice that were devoid of all MBL activity. We found that 100% of MBL-null mice died 48 h after exposure to an intravenous inoculation of S. aureus compared with 45% mortality in wild-type mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that neutrophils and MBL are required to limit intraperitoneal infection with S. aureus. Our study provides direct evidence that MBL plays a key role in restricting the complications associated with S. aureus infection in mice and raises the idea that the MBL gene may act as a disease susceptibility gene against staphylococci infections in humans.
Insights
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is crucial for fighting Staphylococcus aureus infections. Mice lacking MBL activity had significantly higher mortality rates after S. aureus exposure, highlighting MBL
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a significant global health threat, causing substantial morbidity and mortality.
- Host defense against S. aureus involves humoral factors and phagocytes.
- Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a serum protein recognizing microbial carbohydrates, with suggested roles in early host defense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly investigate the in vivo role of MBL in host defense against Staphylococcus aureus.
- To determine the necessity of MBL for survival following S. aureus infection.
Main Methods:
- Generation of MBL-null mice lacking all MBL activity.
- Intravenous inoculation of MBL-null and wild-type mice with S. aureus.
- Assessment of mortality rates and intraperitoneal infection models.
Main Results:
- 100% mortality in MBL-null mice within 48 hours of S. aureus challenge, versus 45% in wild-type mice.
- Neutrophils and MBL were essential for limiting intraperitoneal S. aureus infection.
- Direct in vivo evidence confirming MBL's critical role in restricting S. aureus infection complications.
Conclusions:
- MBL plays a vital role in the innate immune response against Staphylococcus aureus.
- MBL deficiency significantly increases susceptibility to S. aureus infections.
- The MBL gene may function as a human disease susceptibility gene for staphylococcal infections.
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