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Mucosal and systemic candidiasis in congenitally immunodeficient mice
1Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53706.
Infection and Immunity
|April 1, 1990
Summary
The study found that doubly immunodeficient mice (beige athymic) are highly susceptible to Candida albicans infections, leading to severe mucosal and systemic disease. This mouse model is crucial for understanding candidiasis pathogenesis and testing treatments.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pathogenesis
Background:
- Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen.
- Understanding host-pathogen interactions is key to treating candidiasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the susceptibility of different germfree mouse genotypes to Candida albicans colonization and infection.
- To identify a mouse model for studying endogenous mucosal and systemic candidiasis.
Main Methods:
- Germfree mice of six genotypes (athymic, euthymic, beige, black, beige athymic, beige euthymic) were colonized with Candida albicans.
- Colonization, infection, morbidity, mortality, and histopathology were assessed.
- Light microscopy and colony counts were utilized.
Main Results:
- All mouse genotypes were colonized by C. albicans.
- Only beige athymic (bg/bg nu/nu) mice exhibited significant morbidity and mortality.
- Doubly immunodeficient mice showed extensive mucosal infections and developed progressive systemic candidiasis.
Conclusions:
- A combination of defective cell-mediated immunity and phagocytic cell defects predisposes mice to severe candidiasis.
- The beige athymic (bg/bg nu/nu) mouse is a novel model for studying endogenous mucosal and systemic candidiasis with lethality.
- This model allows for early and late-stage infection studies.