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Updated: Aug 27, 2025
The Citrobacter rodentium Mouse Model: Studying Pathogen and Host Contributions to Infectious Colitis
Published on: February 19, 2013
Barley Leaf Ameliorates Citrobacter rodentium-Induced Colitis through Preventive Effects.
Yu Feng1, Daotong Li1, Chen Ma1
1Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetables Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Engineering Research Centre for Fruits and Vegetables Processing, National Engineering Research Center for Fruit and Vegetable Processing, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
Barley leaf (BL) prevents colitis by acting proactively. Supplementing BL before infection significantly reduces disease severity and pathogen transmission, unlike supplementation during infection.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence is rising globally.
- Barley leaf (BL) is a nutritional supplement with potential gut health benefits.
- Previous research suggested BL attenuates Citrobacter rodentium (CR)-induced colitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if BL exerts a prophylactic or therapeutic effect against CR-induced colitis.
- To investigate the optimal timing for BL supplementation in managing colitis.
Main Methods:
- Mice were supplemented with BL either before or during CR infection.
- Disease activity index (DAI), weight loss, and colon length were assessed.
- CR levels in feces and extraintestinal sites were quantified.
- Colonic inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IFNγ, IL1β) and gut microbiota composition were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Pretreatment with BL significantly reduced DAI, weight loss, and colon damage.
- BL pretreatment decreased CR shedding and extraintestinal transmission.
- BL pretreatment lowered inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IFNγ, IL1β).
- BL pretreatment ameliorated gut dysbiosis, increasing Lactobacillus and decreasing Proteobacteria.
- Supplementation during infection showed less improvement compared to pretreatment.
Conclusions:
- Barley leaf (BL) demonstrates a preventive effect against Citrobacter rodentium-induced colitis.
- Prophylactic supplementation with BL is more effective than therapeutic supplementation.
- BL mitigates colitis by reducing inflammation, pathogen load, and restoring gut microbiota balance.
