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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
High-throughput Assay to Phenotype Salmonella enterica Typhimurium Association, Invasion, and Replication in Macrophages
Published on: August 12, 2014
Interaction of Salmonella typhi strains with cultured human monocyte-derived macrophages
D R Sizemore1, E A Elsinghorst, L C Eck
1Department of Bacterial Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C. 20307-5100, USA.
Abstract:
Human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) provided this laboratory with a tool to develop a primary-cell assay for evaluating the relative virulence of newly constructed Salmonella typhi carrier strains. In this study, the interaction with and survival within MDM were compared for delta aroA143-attenuated strains, wild-type virulent strains, and the current oral-vaccine strain, Ty21a.
Insights
This study developed a primary-cell assay using human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) to compare Salmonella typhi virulence. The assay evaluated attenuated and wild-type strains, including the Ty21a oral vaccine, assessing their interaction and survival within MDM.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Salmonella typhi causes typhoid fever, a significant global health concern.
- Developing effective vaccines and understanding bacterial virulence are crucial for disease control.
- Primary cell assays offer a valuable model for studying host-pathogen interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a primary-cell assay using human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) for evaluating Salmonella typhi virulence.
- To compare the relative virulence of novel attenuated Salmonella typhi strains against wild-type virulent strains and the existing oral vaccine strain (Ty21a).
Main Methods:
- Isolation and culture of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM).
- Infection of MDM with different Salmonella typhi strains: delta aroA143-attenuated, wild-type virulent, and Ty21a.
- Assessment of bacterial interaction with and survival within MDM.
Main Results:
- The primary-cell assay using MDM effectively differentiated the virulence profiles of the tested Salmonella typhi strains.
- Differential interaction and survival rates of attenuated, wild-type, and Ty21a strains within MDM were observed.
Conclusions:
- Human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) serve as a suitable model for developing a primary-cell assay to assess Salmonella typhi virulence.
- The developed assay can aid in the characterization and comparative evaluation of novel attenuated Salmonella strains for vaccine development.
