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Updated: Feb 11, 2026
Rapid and Specific Detection of Acinetobacter baumannii Infections Using a Recombinase Polymerase Amplification/Cas12a-based System
Published on: April 25, 2025
Expression pattern of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in mice with Acinetobacter baumannii
Chengping Hu1, Juan Jiang1, Zhen Li1
1Department of Respiratory Medicine (Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine), Key Cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Background:
Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is one of the most troublesome opportunistic pathogens associated with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). It is important to be able to discriminate A. baumannii colonization from infection in its early stages so that effective antibiotics can be promptly applied. Recent studies have reported that the secretion of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) is markedly upregulated in pneumonia and sepsis, but the expression pattern of sTREM-1 in A. baumannii colonization and infection in the lung has not been explored.
Methods:
C57BL/6J male mice were intraperitoneally injected with 1% streptozotocin for 5 consecutive days to establish diabetic models. Subsequently, aerosol inhalation of A. baumannii suspension was performed in these mice to induce pulmonary colonization or infection with saline as vehicle control. Mice were sacrificed and lung tissue was harvested on days 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 after exposure. Pharyngeal swab culture, lung homogenate culture, and H&E staining of lung tissue were performed to assess the severity of infectious inflammation. sTREM-1 expressions in serum and lung supernatants, serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured by ELISA.
Results:
A. baumannii colonization and infection models were verified by pharyngeal swab culture, lung homogenate culture, and H&E staining. While sTREM-1 concentrations in mice with A. baumannii colonization remained unchanged in serum and lung supernatants, sTREM-1 expression levels in infected animals were significantly upregulated. In addition, serum sTREM-1 concentration was positively correlated with serum levels of PCT and CRP.
Conclusions:
Dynamic secretion of sTREM-1 is associated with the development of A. baumannii infection in the lung. Therefore, sTREM-1 expression level may be a promising biomarker for discriminating A. baumannii infection from colonization.
Insights
Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) levels increase during Acinetobacter baumannii lung infection but not colonization. This finding suggests sTREM-1 may help differentiate infection from colonization in the lungs.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Immunology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia.
- Distinguishing A. baumannii colonization from infection is crucial for timely antibiotic treatment.
- The role of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in A. baumannii lung colonization versus infection is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression pattern of sTREM-1 in the context of A. baumannii lung colonization and infection.
- To evaluate sTREM-1 as a potential biomarker for differentiating A. baumannii infection from colonization.
Main Methods:
- Diabetic mouse models were established and infected with A. baumannii via aerosol.
- Lung tissue and serum were collected at various time points post-exposure.
- Infectious inflammation was assessed using cultures and H&E staining.
- sTREM-1, procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured via ELISA.
Main Results:
- A. baumannii colonization and infection models were successfully established and verified.
- Serum and lung sTREM-1 levels remained unchanged in colonized mice.
- Infected mice showed significantly upregulated sTREM-1 expression in serum and lung supernatants.
- Serum sTREM-1 levels correlated positively with PCT and CRP concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic sTREM-1 secretion is linked to the progression of A. baumannii lung infection.
- sTREM-1 shows promise as a biomarker to distinguish A. baumannii infection from colonization.
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