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Evaluation of Antibacterial Drugs Using Silkworms Infected by Cutibacterium acnes
Yasuhiko Matsumoto1, Yuki Tateyama1, Takashi Sugita1
1Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1 Noshio, Kiyose 204-8588, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Cutibacterium acnes is a causative agent of inflammatory skin diseases and systemic infections. Systemic infections caused by C. acnes are difficult to treat, and the development of a systemic infection model for C. acnes would be useful for elucidating the mechanisms of infection and searching for therapeutic agents. In this study, we established a silkworm infection model as a new experimental system to evaluate the interaction between C. acnes and the host, and the efficacy of antibacterial drugs. Silkworms infected with C. acnes died when reared at 37 °C. The dose of injected bacterial cells required to kill half of the silkworms (LD50) was determined under rearing conditions at 37 °C. The viable cell number of C. acnes was increased in the hemolymph and fat body of the infected silkworms. Silkworms injected with autoclaved C. acnes cells did not die during the study period. The survival time of silkworms injected with C. acnes was prolonged by the injection of antibacterial drugs such as tetracycline and clindamycin. These findings suggest that the silkworm C. acnes infection model can be used to evaluate host toxicity caused by C. acnes and the in vivo efficacy of antimicrobial drugs.
Insights
A new silkworm model effectively mimics Cutibacterium acnes systemic infections. This model helps study bacterial toxicity and test antimicrobial drug efficacy in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Animal Models
Background:
- Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) causes inflammatory skin and systemic infections.
- Treating systemic C. acnes infections is challenging, necessitating new experimental models.
- A robust model is crucial for understanding infection mechanisms and developing therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and validate a silkworm infection model for C. acnes.
- To assess the model's utility in evaluating C. acnes host toxicity.
- To determine the model's effectiveness in screening antimicrobial drugs.
Main Methods:
- Silkworms were infected with live C. acnes and reared at 37°C.
- The lethal dose 50 (LD50) was determined.
- Bacterial load in hemolymph and fat body was quantified.
- Silkworms were treated with antibiotics (tetracycline, clindamycin).
Main Results:
- Silkworms infected with C. acnes at 37°C exhibited mortality.
- LD50 was established under these conditions.
- C. acnes viable cell counts increased in silkworm hemolymph and fat body.
- Heat-killed C. acnes did not cause mortality.
- Antibiotic treatment significantly prolonged silkworm survival.
Conclusions:
- The silkworm model accurately reflects C. acnes systemic infection.
- This model is suitable for evaluating C. acnes-induced host toxicity.
- The silkworm model demonstrates efficacy for in vivo antimicrobial drug screening.
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