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Updated: May 23, 2026
The Citrobacter rodentium Mouse Model: Studying Pathogen and Host Contributions to Infectious Colitis
Published on: February 19, 2013
Probiotics are effective for the prevention and treatment of Citrobacter rodentium-induced colitis in mice
David M Rodrigues1, Andrew J Sousa, Kathene C Johnson-Henry
1Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada.
Background:
Probiotics prevent disease induced by Citrobacter rodentium, a murine-specific enteric pathogen. Whether probiotics can be used to interrupt the infectious process following initiation of infection was determined.
Methods:
C57BL/6 adult and neonatal mice were challenged with C. rodentium, and a probiotic mixture containing Lactobacillus helveticus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus was provided 1 week before bacterial challenge, concurrently with infection, or 3 days and 6 days after infection. Mice were sacrificed 10 days after infection, and disease severity was assessed by histological analysis and in vivo intestinal permeability assay. Inflammatory pathways and the composition of the fecal microbiome were assessed in adult mice.
Results:
Preadministration and coadministration of probiotics ameliorated C. rodentium-induced barrier dysfunction, epithelial hyperplasia, and binding of the pathogen to host colonocytes in adults, with similar findings in neonatal mice. Upregulated tumor necrosis factor α and interferon γ transcripts were suppressed in the pretreated probiotic group, whereas interleukin 17 transcription was suppressed with probiotics given up to 3 days after infection. Probiotics promoted transcription of interleukin 10 and FOXP3, and increased follicular T-regulatory cells in pretreatment mice. C. rodentium infection resulted in an altered fecal microbiome, which was normalized with probiotic intervention.
Conclusions:
This study provides evidence that probiotics can prevent illness and treat disease in an animal model of infectious colitis.
Insights
Probiotics can prevent and treat infectious colitis caused by Citrobacter rodentium in mice. This study shows probiotics can interrupt the disease process even after infection begins.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Citrobacter rodentium is a murine-specific enteric pathogen that causes disease.
- Probiotics are known to prevent C. rodentium-induced illness.
- The potential for probiotics to interrupt established infections was investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if probiotics can interrupt the infectious process of Citrobacter rodentium after infection initiation.
- To assess the therapeutic potential of probiotics in treating infectious colitis.
Main Methods:
- Adult and neonatal mice were infected with C. rodentium.
- A probiotic mixture (Lactobacillus helveticus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus) was administered before, during, or after infection.
- Disease severity, intestinal permeability, inflammatory markers, and fecal microbiome composition were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Probiotics ameliorated C. rodentium-induced barrier dysfunction and epithelial hyperplasia.
- Probiotic administration suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine transcripts (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17) and promoted anti-inflammatory transcripts (IL-10, FOXP3).
- Probiotics normalized the C. rodentium-altered fecal microbiome.
Conclusions:
- Probiotics can effectively prevent illness caused by C. rodentium in a murine model.
- Probiotics demonstrate therapeutic potential in treating established infectious colitis.
