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Updated: Mar 20, 2026
The Citrobacter rodentium Mouse Model: Studying Pathogen and Host Contributions to Infectious Colitis
Published on: February 19, 2013
Investigation of Host and Pathogen Contributions to Infectious Colitis Using the Citrobacter rodentium Mouse Model of
Else S Bosman1, Justin M Chan1, Kirandeep Bhullar1
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Abstract:
Citrobacter rodentium is used as a model organism to study enteric bacterial infections in mice. Infection occurs via the oral-fecal route and results in the pathogen forming attaching and effacing lesions on infected epithelial cells. Moreover, infection leads to a subsequent host-mediated form of colitis. C. rodentium infection is thus an excellent model to study infectious colitis in vivo, while the ability to genetically manipulate C. rodentium virulence genes provides the opportunity to develop clear insights into the pathogenesis of this and related infectious microbes. This chapter outlines the basic techniques involved in setting up a C. rodentium infection in mice and several different methodologies to assess the severity of the infection.
Insights
Citrobacter rodentium infection in mice serves as a model for studying enteric bacterial infections and infectious colitis. This research details methods for establishing C. rodentium infections and assessing disease severity in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Citrobacter rodentium is a key model organism for studying enteric bacterial infections.
- Oral-fecal route transmission leads to attaching and effacing lesions and host-mediated colitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline techniques for establishing Citrobacter rodentium infection in mice.
- To present methodologies for assessing infection severity in vivo.
- To leverage genetic manipulation of C. rodentium for pathogenesis insights.
Main Methods:
- Oral gavage for C. rodentium inoculation in a murine model.
- Assessment of host-mediated colitis.
- Evaluation of C. rodentium virulence gene manipulation.
Main Results:
- Established protocols for C. rodentium infection in mice.
- Demonstrated methodologies for quantifying infection severity.
- Provided a framework for investigating bacterial pathogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Citrobacter rodentium infection in mice is a valuable model for infectious colitis research.
- The described methods facilitate in-depth study of bacterial pathogenesis.
- Genetic manipulation of C. rodentium enhances understanding of host-pathogen interactions.
