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Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Chronic Salmonella Infected Mouse Model
Published on: May 31, 2010
Atypical Salmonella enterica Serovars in Murine and Human Macrophage Infection Models
Daniel Hurley1,2, Maria Hoffmann3, Tim Muruvanda3
1UCD Centre for Food Safety, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland daniel.hurley@ucd.ie sfanning@ucd.ie.
Abstract:
Nontyphoidal Salmonella species are globally disseminated pathogens and are the predominant cause of gastroenteritis. The pathogenesis of salmonellosis has been extensively studied using in vivo murine models and cell lines, typically challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Although S. enterica serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium are responsible for most of the human infections reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several other serovars also contribute to clinical cases of salmonellosis. Despite their epidemiological importance, little is known about their infection phenotypes. Here, we report the virulence characteristics and genomes of 10 atypical S. enterica serovars linked to multistate foodborne outbreaks in the United States. We show that the murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model of infection is unsuitable for inferring human-relevant differences in nontyphoidal Salmonella infections, whereas differentiated human THP-1 macrophages allowed these isolates to be further characterized in a more human-relevant context.
Insights
Nontyphoidal Salmonella serovars causing foodborne illness have unknown infection characteristics. Human THP-1 macrophages, unlike mouse models, reveal differences in these pathogens, aiding in understanding salmonellosis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Genomics
Background:
- Nontyphoidal Salmonella species are leading causes of gastroenteritis worldwide.
- Salmonellosis pathogenesis is often studied using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in murine models.
- Limited knowledge exists regarding the infection phenotypes of atypical Salmonella serovars despite their epidemiological significance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the virulence and genomes of 10 atypical Salmonella enterica serovars associated with US foodborne outbreaks.
- To evaluate the suitability of different macrophage models for studying Salmonella infection phenotypes relevant to humans.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome sequencing of 10 atypical Salmonella enterica serovars.
- Infection assays using murine RAW 264.7 macrophages.
- Infection assays using differentiated human THP-1 macrophages.
Main Results:
- Genomic data and virulence characteristics were determined for 10 atypical Salmonella serovars.
- The murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model did not accurately reflect human-relevant infection differences for nontyphoidal Salmonella.
- Differentiated human THP-1 macrophages provided a more human-relevant context for characterizing Salmonella infection phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Atypical Salmonella serovars possess distinct virulence profiles.
- Human THP-1 macrophages are a more suitable model than murine RAW 264.7 macrophages for studying human-relevant Salmonella pathogenesis.
- This research enhances understanding of diverse Salmonella serovar infections and foodborne outbreak pathogens.
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