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The Citrobacter rodentium Mouse Model: Studying Pathogen and Host Contributions to Infectious Colitis
11:04

The Citrobacter rodentium Mouse Model: Studying Pathogen and Host Contributions to Infectious Colitis

Published on: February 19, 2013

Emergence of a 'hyperinfectious' bacterial state after passage of Citrobacter rodentium through the host

Siouxsie Wiles1, Gordon Dougan, Gad Frankel

  • 1Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.

Cellular Microbiology
|July 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Citrobacter rodentium gains a hyperinfectious state after mouse gut passage, reducing infection dose and altering tissue colonization. This transient state reverts to normal infectivity after in vitro culture.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Citrobacter rodentium is an enteric pathogen related to E. coli.
  • It causes attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions for colonization.
  • Unlike EHEC/EPEC, C. rodentium is a suitable mouse model for A/E pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate organ specificity and colonization dynamics of C. rodentium in mice.
  • Characterize the 'hyperinfectious' state induced by murine gastrointestinal tract passage.
  • Understand the implications of this state on infection dose and tissue tropism.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized bioluminescence imaging (BLI) for real-time, in situ monitoring of C. rodentium colonization in mice.
  • Compared colonization dynamics of LB-grown and mouse-passaged C. rodentium.
  • Assessed infectivity and tissue distribution following different passage methods.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated the emergence of a 'hyperinfectious' state in C. rodentium after passage through the murine gut.
  • This state significantly reduced the infectious dose for secondary hosts.
  • Observed altered tissue distribution, bypassing initial caecal patch colonization.

Conclusions:

  • Murine gut passage induces a transient 'hyperinfectious' phenotype in Citrobacter rodentium.
  • This phenotype enhances bacterial transmission potential and alters colonization patterns.
  • Standard laboratory culture conditions rapidly restore C. rodentium to its non-hyperinfectious state.

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