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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
A Mouse Model to Assess Innate Immune Response to Staphylococcus aureus Infection
Published on: February 28, 2019
Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids Increase Survival and Decrease Bacterial Load in Mice Subjected to Staphylococcus
Sara L Svahn1, Marcus A Ulleryd1, Louise Grahnemo1,2
1Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburgy, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Abstract:
Sepsis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is increasing in incidence. With the alarming use of antibiotics,S. aureus is prone to become methicillin resistant. Antibiotics are the only widely used pharmacological treatment for sepsis. Interestingly, mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids have better survival of S. aureus-induced sepsis than mice fed HFD rich in saturated fatty acids (HFD-S). To investigate what component of polyunsaturated fatty acids, i.e., omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids, exerts beneficial effects on the survival of S. aureus-induced sepsis, mice were fed HFD rich in omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids for 8 weeks prior to inoculation with S. aureus Further, mice fed HFD-S were treated with omega-3 fatty acid metabolites known as resolvins. Mice fed HFD rich in omega-3 fatty acids had increased survival and decreased bacterial loads compared to those for mice fed HFD-S after S. aureus-induced sepsis. Furthermore, the bacterial load was decreased in resolvin-treated mice fed HFD-S after S. aureus-induced sepsis compared with that in mice treated with vehicle. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids increase the survival of S. aureus-induced sepsis by reversing the deleterious effect of HFD-S on mouse survival.
Insights
Dietary omega-3 fatty acids improve survival in Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acid metabolites also reduced bacterial load, offering a potential therapeutic strategy.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Sepsis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is a growing concern, exacerbated by increasing antibiotic resistance.
- Current pharmacological treatments for sepsis are limited, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies.
- Dietary interventions, particularly high-fat diets (HFD), influence sepsis outcomes, with polyunsaturated fatty acids showing promise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine whether omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids in a high-fat diet (HFD) improve survival in Staphylococcus aureus-induced sepsis.
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of omega-3 fatty acid metabolites (resolvins) in sepsis.
Main Methods:
- Mice were fed HFD rich in omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids for 8 weeks before Staphylococcus aureus inoculation.
- Mice fed a saturated fatty acid-rich HFD (HFD-S) were treated with resolvins or vehicle control.
- Survival rates and bacterial loads were assessed post-infection.
Main Results:
- Mice fed an omega-3 rich HFD exhibited significantly increased survival and reduced bacterial loads compared to those on HFD-S.
- Treatment with resolvins in HFD-S fed mice led to a decrease in bacterial load compared to vehicle-treated controls.
- Dietary omega-3 fatty acids appear to counteract the negative effects of HFD-S on sepsis survival.
Conclusions:
- Dietary omega-3 fatty acids enhance survival and reduce bacterial burden in Staphylococcus aureus sepsis.
- Resolvins, metabolites of omega-3 fatty acids, demonstrate therapeutic potential in sepsis treatment.
- Modulating dietary fatty acid intake represents a promising avenue for managing sepsis outcomes.
