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Updated: Aug 1, 2026
Long Term Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Airway Infection in Mice
Published on: March 17, 2014
Experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediated rhino sinusitis in mink
S Kirkeby1, A S Hammer2, N Høiby3
1Department of Oral Medicine, Dental School, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Nørre Alle 20, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
Objectives:
The nasal and sinus cavities in children may serve as reservoirs for microorganisms that cause recurrent and chronic lung infections. This study evaluates whether the mink can be used as an animal model for studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediated rhino-sinusitis since there is no suitable traditional animal model for this disease.
Methods:
Nasal tissue samples from infected and control mink were fixed in formalin, demineralized, and embedded in paraffin. A histological examination of sections from the infected animals revealed disintegration of the respiratory epithelium lining the nasal turbinates and swelling and edema of the submucosa. The expression of mucins and sialylated glycans was examined using immunohistochemistry.
Results:
MUC1, MUC2 and MUC5AC were upregulated in the inoculated animals as a much stronger staining was present in the respiratory epithelium in the infected animals compared to the controls. The goblet cells in the nasal epithelium from the infected mink showed high affinity to the Maackia amurensis lectin and anti-asialo GM1 indicating a high concentration of α2-3 sialic acid respectively βGalNAc1-4Galβ containing glycans in these mucin producing cells. The nasal cavity in the infected mink shows features of carbohydrate expression comparable to what has been described in the respiratory system after Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in humans.
Conclusion:
It is suggested that the mink is suitable for studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediated rhino-sinusitis.
Insights
Mink nasal tissues show changes similar to human Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. This suggests mink are a suitable animal model for studying rhino-sinusitis, a condition often linked to lung infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Recurrent and chronic lung infections in children can stem from microorganisms in nasal and sinus cavities.
- A suitable animal model is lacking for studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa-mediated rhino-sinusitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the suitability of mink as an animal model for Pseudomonas aeruginosa-mediated rhino-sinusitis.
- To investigate the histopathological and molecular changes in mink nasal tissues following Pseudomonas aeruginosa inoculation.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded nasal tissue samples from infected and control mink.
- Immunohistochemical analysis of mucin and sialylated glycan expression in nasal epithelium.
Main Results:
- Infected mink exhibited respiratory epithelium disintegration and submucosal swelling/edema.
- Upregulation of MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC was observed in infected mink nasal epithelium.
- Goblet cells in infected mink showed high concentrations of α2-3 sialic acid and specific glycans, comparable to human Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
Conclusions:
- The observed pathological and molecular changes in mink nasal cavities resemble those in human Pseudomonas aeruginosa rhino-sinusitis.
- Mink represent a promising animal model for further research into Pseudomonas aeruginosa-mediated rhino-sinusitis.
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