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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines
Published on: October 11, 2022
Statins limit Rickettsia conorii infection in cells
E Botelho-Nevers1, J M Rolain, L Espinosa
1Unité des Rickettsies, URMITE CNRS UMR 6236, IRD 198, Marseille, France.
Abstract:
Recent data suggest that statins may have a beneficial effect during sepsis. In this study, we tested the effect of lovastatin and pravastatin on the cellular culture of Rickettsia conorii using a quantitative plaque assay model associated with an original image analysis algorithm. Statins added at the time of infection did not modify plaque formation, whereas pre-incubation with statins for 48h resulted in a significant 30-68% plaque reduction, depending on the tested compounds and doses. These preliminary findings raise the hypothesis that statins may prevent or moderate rickettsial disease in exposed people.
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