Evaluation of host and bacterial gene modulation during Lawsonia intracellularis infection in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mouse model
- Author:
Perumalraja KIRTHIKA
1
;
Sungwoo PARK
;
Vijayakumar JAWALAGATTI
;
John Hwa LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science 2022;23(3):e41-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:Proliferative enteritis caused by Lawsonia intracellularis undermines the economic stability of the swine industry worldwide. The development of cost-effective animal models to study the pathophysiology of the disease will help develop strategies to counter this bacterium.
Objectives:This study focused on establishing a model of gastrointestinal (GI) infection of L.intracellularis in C57BL/6 mice to evaluate the disease progression and lesions of proliferative enteropathy (PE) in murine GI tissue.
Methods:We assessed the murine mucosal and cell-mediated immune responses generated in response to inoculation with L. intracellularis.
Results:The mice developed characteristic lesions of the disease and shed L.intracellularis in the feces following oral inoculation with 5 × 107 bacteria. An increase in L. intracellularis 16s rRNA and groEL copies in the intestine of infected mice indicated intestinal dissemination of the bacteria. The C57BL/6 mice appeared capable of modulating humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to L. intracellularis infection. Notably, the expression of genes for the vitamin B12 receptor and for secreted and membrane-bound mucins were downregulated in L. intracellularis -infected mice. Furthermore, L. intracellularis colonization of the mouse intestine was confirmed by the immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses.
Conclusions:This is the first study demonstrating the contributions of bacterial chaperonin and host nutrient genes to PE using an immunocompetent mouse model. This mouse infection model may serve as a platform from which to study L. intracellularis infection and develop potential vaccination and therapeutic strategies to treat PE.
