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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
A Non-invasive and Technically Non-intensive Method for Induction and Phenotyping of Experimental Bacterial Pneumonia in Mice
Published on: September 28, 2016
Pneumonia in mice inoculated experimentally with Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus
Mohammad Khan1, Bernard La Scola, Hubert Lepidi
1Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS UMR 6020, IFR 48, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille 5, France.
Abstract:
In an attempt to elucidate whether Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APM) was pathogenic (i.e., induces histological evidence of inflammation or tissue destruction or both) in mammalian host, we inoculated adult BALB/c (n=6) and C57BL/6 (n=6) mice with APM via intracardiac route. C57BL/6 mice developed histopathological features of pneumonia by post-inoculation day (PID) 3 and BALB/c mice, by PID7. The histopathological features of pneumonia, characterized by the presence of thickened alveolar walls with cellular infiltrates comprising mononuclear leukocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes, diffuse alveolar damages with the formation of hyaline membrane and erythrocytes in the alveolar lumen, were most marked by PID 7. We conclude that APM is pathogenic in mice in experimental conditions.
Insights
Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APM) causes pneumonia in mice. This study demonstrates APM
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APM) is a large DNA virus.
- The pathogenicity of APM in mammalian hosts remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APM) induces pathological changes in a mammalian host.
- To investigate the potential of APM to cause inflammation and tissue damage.
Main Methods:
- Adult BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with APM via the intracardiac route.
- Histopathological analysis was performed on lung tissues at various post-inoculation days.
Main Results:
- Both mouse strains developed pneumonia following APM inoculation.
- C57BL/6 mice showed pneumonia by post-inoculation day 3, while BALB/c mice showed it by day 7.
- Histopathological features included thickened alveolar walls, cellular infiltrates, diffuse alveolar damage, and hyaline membrane formation.
Conclusions:
- Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APM) is pathogenic in mice under experimental conditions.
- APM infection leads to significant histopathological changes indicative of pneumonia.
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