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Measuring Bacterial Load and Immune Responses in Mice Infected with Listeria monocytogenes
12:50

Measuring Bacterial Load and Immune Responses in Mice Infected with Listeria monocytogenes

Published on: August 9, 2011

Contribution of nitric oxide to CpG-mediated protection against Listeria monocytogenes

Shuichi Ito1, Ken J Ishii, Atsushi Ihata

  • 1CBER/FDA, Bldg. 29A, Rm. 3D10, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Klinman@CBER.FDA.GOV

Infection and Immunity
|May 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Immunostimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) enhance resistance to Listeria by priming immune cells. This protection is dependent on nitric oxide (NO) production, as shown in knockout mouse studies.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Disease

Background:

  • CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) are known immunostimulants.
  • Listeriae infections pose a significant health risk.
  • Immune responses involve cytokines like gamma interferon and nitric oxide.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of CpG ODN in host resistance to listeriae.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying CpG ODN-mediated protection.
  • To determine the critical mediators of this immune response.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of mice with CpG ODN.
  • Exposure to listeriae.
  • Assessment of host resistance and survival.
  • Use of inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 knockout mice.

Main Results:

  • CpG ODN treatment significantly improved host resistance to listeriae.
  • CpG ODN induced gamma interferon production and primed nitric oxide secretion.
  • Inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 knockout mice were not protected by CpG ODN, highlighting NO's role.

Conclusions:

  • CpG ODN enhances host defense against listeriae.
  • Nitric oxide (NO) is essential for CpG ODN-mediated protection.
  • CpG ODN leverages innate immune pathways involving NO for bacterial clearance.

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