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The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans - A Versatile In Vivo Model to Study Host-microbe Interactions
Published on: October 18, 2017
Virulent synergistic effect between Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli assayed by using the Caenorhabditis
Jean-Philippe Lavigne1, Marie-Hélène Nicolas-Chanoine, Gisèle Bourg
1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, ESPRI 26, Université Montpellier 1, UFR de Médecine, Nîmes, France.
Plos One
|October 10, 2008
Summary
Virulent enterococci significantly increase the pathogenicity of Escherichia coli in polymicrobial infections. This bacterial cooperation, observed in a Caenorhabditis elegans model, highlights the need for optimized antibiotic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathogenesis
Background:
- The role of enterococci in polymicrobial infections remains unclear.
- Investigating bacterial interactions is crucial for understanding disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the impact of enterococci on the virulence of Escherichia coli.
- To evaluate these interactions in a live organism model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Caenorhabditis elegans model to study polymicrobial infections.
- Compared the virulence of enterococci and E. coli alone versus in combination.
Main Results:
- A synergistic increase in virulence was observed when enterococci and E. coli were combined.
- The virulence of the enterococci-E. coli association was dependent on the virulence of the E. coli strain.
- Enterococci showed no increased effect when E. coli strains were avirulent.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrates a cooperative effect between enterococci and virulent E. coli strains.
- Findings contribute to understanding bacterial cooperation in infections.
- Results may inform improved antibiotic treatment strategies for polymicrobial infections.
