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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature
Published on: April 1, 2014
Development of a serologic panel for the recognition of nocardial infections in a murine model
1Department of Medical Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
Insights
A new serologic test accurately detects Nocardia infections in mice. This sensitive and specific assay differentiates Nocardia from other related bacteria, aiding in diagnosing clinical and subclinical cases.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Nocardia infections can be difficult to diagnose, especially subclinical cases.
- A reliable serologic test is needed for accurate detection and differentiation of Nocardia infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a sensitive and specific serologic test for Nocardia infections in a murine model.
- To differentiate Nocardia infections from those caused by other actinomycetes.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using Nocardia asteroides antigens (culture filtrate, cytoplasmic extract, trehalose dimycolate).
- Indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay with whole N. asteroides cells.
- Western blot analysis targeting specific N. asteroides proteins (54-55 kD, 36 kD, 62 kD).
- Testing sera from mice infected with Nocardia and various other bacteria (Mycobacterium, Rhodococcus equi, Actinomadura, Streptomyces).
Main Results:
- The developed serologic tests successfully identified mice infected with Nocardia.
- The tests effectively distinguished Nocardia infections from infections caused by other tested actinomycetes, including mycobacteria.
Conclusions:
- A panel of serologic assays, including ELISAs and Western blot, can reliably detect Nocardia infections in mice.
- These methods offer a promising approach for diagnosing Nocardia infections and differentiating them from other bacterial infections.
Abstract:
A murine model was used to develop a sensitive and specific serologic test for clinical and subclinical infections caused by Nocardia. The following tests were used: (a) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with culture filtrate and cytoplasmic extract antigens from Nocardia asteroides; (b) ELISA with N. asteroides trehalose dimycolate (cord factor); (c) indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay with whole cells of N. asteroides; and (d) Western-blot analysis for the 54 to 55-kD, 36-kD, and 62-kD proteins of N. asteroides. The sera from BALB/c mice, experimentally infected with nonlethal doses of three species of Nocardia, nine species of Mycobacterium, Rhodococcus equi, two species of Actinomadura, and two species of Streptomyces were tested using this panel. The serologic tests did, indeed, identify mice infected with nocardiae and could differentiate them from mice infected with the other actinomycetes, including mycobacteria.
