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Mus spretus SEG/Pas mice resist virulent Yersinia pestis, under multigenic control

C Blanchet1, J Jaubert, E Carniel

  • 1Institut Pasteur, Mouse Functional Genetics Unit, Paris, France.

Genes and Immunity
|September 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Mus spretus-derived SEG mice show exceptional resistance to Yersinia pestis, the bacterium causing bubonic plague. Genetic analysis identified three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring this resistance, offering insights into plague immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Laboratory mice are typically susceptible to virulent Yersinia pestis strains.
  • Bubonic plague remains a significant public health concern requiring better understanding of host resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the resistance of Mus spretus-derived SEG/Pas (SEG) mice to Yersinia pestis.
  • To identify genetic factors contributing to Yersinia pestis resistance.

Main Methods:

  • SEG mice and C57BL/6 mice were challenged with virulent Yersinia pestis strains (CO92 and 6/69).
  • Survival rates and time to mortality were recorded.
  • Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis was performed on 322 backcross mice.

Main Results:

  • SEG mice exhibited exceptional resistance to Yersinia pestis, with high survival rates even at high CFU challenges.
  • Three significant QTLs on chromosomes 3, 4, and 6 were identified, each conferring approximately 20% increased survival.
  • These QTLs function additively, accounting for 67% of the phenotypic difference between parental strains.

Conclusions:

  • SEG mice provide a valuable model for studying resistance to Yersinia pestis.
  • The identified QTLs and their additive effects are crucial for understanding the genetic basis of plague resistance.
  • Further research can unravel mechanisms underlying SEG mouse resistance to Y. pestis infection.

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