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Published on: March 5, 2018
Selection of ESBL-Producing E. coli in a Mouse Intestinal Colonization Model
Frederik Boëtius Hertz1,2, Karen Leth Nielsen2,3, Niels Frimodt-Møller4
1Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
Abstract:
Asymptomatic human carriage of antimicrobially drug-resistant pathogens prior to infection is increasing worldwide. Further investigation into the role of this fecal reservoir is important for combatting the increasing antimicrobial resistance problems. Additionally, the damage on the intestinal microflora due to antimicrobial treatment is still not fully understood. Animal models are powerful tools to investigate bacterial colonization subsequent to antibiotic treatment. In this chapter we present a mouse-intestinal colonization model designed to investigate how antibiotics select for an ESBL-producing E. coli isolate. The model can be used to study how antibiotics with varying effect on the intestinal flora promote the establishment of the multidrug-resistant E. coli. Colonization is successfully investigated by sampling and culturing stool during the days following administration of antibiotics. Following culturing, a precise identification of the bacterial strain found in mice feces is applied to ensure that the isolate found is in fact identical to the strain used for inoculation. For this purpose random amplified of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR specifically developed for E. coli is applied. This method allows us to distinguish E. coli with more than 99.95% genome similarity using a duplex PCR method.
Insights
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global threat. This study presents a mouse model to investigate how antibiotics promote the spread of drug-resistant bacteria like E. coli in the gut.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Genetics
Background:
- Rising global rates of asymptomatic carriage of antimicrobial drug-resistant pathogens.
- The critical need to understand the fecal reservoir's role in combating antimicrobial resistance.
- Incomplete understanding of antibiotic-induced damage to intestinal microflora.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel mouse intestinal colonization model.
- To investigate antibiotic selection of ESBL-producing E. coli.
- To study how different antibiotics affect the establishment of multidrug-resistant E. coli.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of a mouse intestinal colonization model.
- Antibiotic administration followed by stool sampling and culturing.
- Identification of bacterial strains using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR for precise E. coli strain differentiation.
Main Results:
- Successful colonization and tracking of E. coli in mice post-antibiotic treatment.
- Demonstration of antibiotic-specific selection of multidrug-resistant E. coli.
- Validation of RAPD PCR for distinguishing E. coli strains with high genomic similarity (>99.95%).
Conclusions:
- The mouse model effectively simulates antibiotic-induced selection of drug-resistant E. coli.
- This model aids in understanding the impact of antibiotics on gut microbiota and resistance.
- Precise bacterial identification methods are crucial for studying colonization dynamics.
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