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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Chronic Salmonella Infected Mouse Model
Published on: June 1, 2010
A mouse model of chronic bacterial lesions (a cotton trap) for studying oral bacteria-lymphocyte interactions
P Hudler1, M Gubina, N Ihan Hren
1National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Insights
Anaerobic bacteria and nocardiae induce stronger cytotoxic and Th1 immune responses than oral streptococci in a mouse infection model. This suggests differences in bacterial components drive varied immune cell activation and T-cell responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Periapical processes are often caused by bacterial infections.
- Understanding host-pathogen interactions is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Immune responses to common oral bacteria are not fully characterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate immune cell interactions with bacteria commonly found in periapical processes.
- To compare the immune-stimulating potential of different bacterial strains using a mouse model.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying T-cell activation in response to chronic infection.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of a mouse model for chronic bacterial infection using cotton traps.
- Analysis of intracellular cytokines in activated T cells via flow cytometry.
- Infection of cotton traps with anaerobic bacteria (Bacteroides sp.), nocardiae, and oral streptococci.
Main Results:
- Anaerobic bacteria and nocardiae elicited a more potent cytotoxic immunity and Th1 response compared to oral streptococci.
- Differences in immune response may involve non-specific immune cell stimulation by bacterial components like cell walls.
- Specific antigen-dependent immune mechanisms cannot be ruled out as contributing factors.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial strains isolated from periapical processes induce distinct immune responses in mice.
- Anaerobic bacteria and nocardiae are stronger inducers of cytotoxic and Th1 immunity than oral streptococci.
- Immune responses are likely influenced by both specific bacterial antigens and non-specific immune cell stimulation.
Abstract:
We established a mouse model of chronic bacterial infection (cotton trap) to get a deeper insight into interactions between immune cells and bacterial strains, that are most commonly isolated from periapical processes. We have used flow cytometry to identify the presence of intracellular cytokines of activated T cells collected from cotton traps, previously infected with different strains of bacteria and implanted subcutaneously into the back of the mice. We provide an evidence that anaerobic bacteria (Bacteroides sp.) and nocardiae are more effective in inducing cytotoxic immunity and Th1 response compared to oral streptococci. Differences in immune response against anaerobic bacteria when compared to streptococci are probably dependent on some non-specific immune cell stimulation (e.g. by bacterial cell wall components), nevertheless the role of specific antigen-dependent immune mechanism can not be excluded.
