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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice
Published on: March 17, 2014
Assessing Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence and the host response using murine models of acute and chronic lung
Irena Kukavica-Ibrulj1, Marcella Facchini, Cristina Cigana
1Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, 1030 av. de la médecine, Québec, QC, Canada, G1V 0A6.
Abstract:
Murine models of acute and chronic lung infection have been used in studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa for assessing in vivo behavior and for monitoring of the host response. These models provide an important resource for studies of the initiation and maintenance of bacterial infection, identify bacterial genes essential for in vivo maintenance and for the development and testing of new therapies. The rat has been used extensively as a model of chronic lung infection, whereas the mouse has been a model of acute and chronic infection. Intratracheal administration of planktonic bacterial cells in the mouse provides a model of acute pneumonia. Bacteria enmeshed in agar beads can be used in the rat and mouse to reproduce the lung pathology of cystic fibrosis patients with advanced chronic pulmonary disease. Here, we describe the methods to assess virulence of P. aeruginosa using prototype and clinical strains in the Sprague-Dawley rat and the C57BL/6NCrlBR mouse by monitoring several measurable read-outs including weight loss, mortality, in vivo growth curves, the competitive index of infectivity, and the inflammatory response.
Insights
This study details methods for evaluating Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence in rat and mouse models. These models aid in understanding bacterial lung infections and testing new therapies for improved patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Animal Models
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections are a significant clinical challenge.
- Murine models are crucial for studying bacterial pathogenesis and host responses.
- Existing models have limitations in fully recapitulating chronic lung disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and validate robust methods for assessing Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence in rat and mouse models.
- To compare the utility of Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6NCrlBR mice for studying P. aeruginosa lung infections.
- To provide a framework for evaluating bacterial virulence factors and therapeutic interventions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6NCrlBR mice for infection studies.
- Administered planktonic cells and agar bead-enmeshed bacteria via intratracheal instillation.
- Monitored P. aeruginosa virulence through weight loss, mortality, in vivo growth curves, competitive index, and inflammatory markers.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the ability of both rat and mouse models to reflect P. aeruginosa infection dynamics.
- Showcased the utility of agar bead models in mimicking cystic fibrosis lung pathology.
- Quantified measurable read-outs for assessing bacterial virulence and host response.
Conclusions:
- Validated rat and mouse models as effective tools for P. aeruginosa virulence studies.
- Highlighted the importance of model selection based on acute versus chronic infection research.
- Provided a comprehensive methodological approach for future P. aeruginosa infection research and therapeutic development.
