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Published on: February 19, 2013
A gastrointestinal rotavirus infection mouse model for immune modulation studies
Karen Knipping1, Monica M McNeal, Annelies Crienen
1Danone Research Centre for Specialised Nutrition, P,O, Box 7005, 6700 CA Wageningen, The Netherlands. karen.knipping@danone.com
Virology Journal
|March 10, 2011
Summary
Colostrum antibodies (Gastrogard-R®) completely protected infant mice from rotavirus diarrhea. While re-infection protection was diminished, Gastrogard-R® enhanced T-cell responses, indicating a developed immune response to rotavirus.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Rotaviruses are a leading cause of severe diarrhea in young children globally.
- Investigating passive immunity via colostrum antibodies (Gastrogard-R®) for rotavirus protection.
- Assessing immune parameter modulation following rotavirus re-infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the protective efficacy of rotavirus-specific antibodies in colostrum (Gastrogard-R®) against rotavirus infection.
- To examine the modulatory effects of this intervention on immune responses after re-infection.
Main Methods:
- BALB/c mice were gavaged with Gastrogard-R® and infected with rhesus rotavirus (RRV) and epizootic-diarrhea infant-mouse (EDIM) virus.
- Disease symptoms and viral shedding were monitored post-inoculation.
- Immune responses including serum antibodies, T-cell proliferation, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) were measured.
Main Results:
- Gastrogard-R® provided 100% protection against rotavirus-induced diarrhea in primary infection.
- Mice receiving Gastrogard-R® showed reduced fecal viral load after secondary EDIM infection.
- Enhanced rotavirus-specific T-cell proliferation was observed, but antibody subtypes remained unaffected.
Conclusions:
- Gastrogard-R® effectively prevents rotavirus diarrhea in early life but offers diminished protection against subsequent re-infection.
- A rotavirus-specific immune response, involving both B and T cells, was developed.
- This model is suitable for studying clinical symptoms and immune responses crucial for protection against viral re-infection.
