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Fingas F, Volke D, Hassert R, Fornefett J, Funk S, Baums CG, Hoffmann R. Sensitive and immunogen-specific serological detection of Rodentibacter pneumotropicus infections in mice. BMC Microbiol 2019; 19:43. [PMID: 30777007 PMCID: PMC6380038 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-019-1417-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rodentibacter (R.) pneumotropicus colonizes the respiratory and urogenital tracts of laboratory mice with a reported moderate serological prevalence from 4 to 13%. Thus, regular tests to identify this pathogen in mice are recommended for animal facilities. However, a recent study indicated that current serological assays are partly insensitive, as C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice infected with R. pneumotropicus were incorrectly screened as seronegative. Results Here, we report a systematic analysis of protein and lipopolysaccharides antigens by immunoblot and ELISA that allowed establishing a sensitive test system able to differentiate between R. pneumotropicus and the closely related species R. heylii. Furthermore, the main immunogen, designated as ‘characteristic antigen for Rodentibacter of laboratory origin 1’ (CARLO-1), was identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblot and tandem mass spectrometry in a preparation of outer membrane proteins. An indirect ELISA relying on the recombinantly expressed protein provided high sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity. The corresponding carlo1 gene was highly conserved (> 97%) among 21 isolates of R. pneumotropicus and R. heylii. Conclusion The newly identified protein CARLO-1 is well suited for the sensitive and specific serological detection of Rodentibacter infections in mice. Indirect differentiation of R. pneumotropicus and R. heylii infections may be possible using an ELISA based on a whole-cell antigen preparation. All four established ELISA systems using a whole-cell preparation, lipopolysaccharides, outer-membrane proteins and protein CARLO-1 as antigen, respectively, outperformed a commercial ELISA in terms of sensitivity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12866-019-1417-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Fingas
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,GVG Diagnostics GmbH, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniela Volke
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rayk Hassert
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Juliane Fornefett
- Institute for Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sophie Funk
- Institute for Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Georg Baums
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute for Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ralf Hoffmann
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. .,Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. .,Biotechnologisch-Biomedizinisches Zentrum, Universität Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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Fornefett J, Krause J, Klose K, Fingas F, Hassert R, Benga L, Grunwald T, Müller U, Schrödl W, Baums CG. Comparative analysis of humoral immune responses and pathologies of BALB/c and C57BL/6 wildtype mice experimentally infected with a highly virulent Rodentibacter pneumotropicus (Pasteurella pneumotropica) strain. BMC Microbiol 2018; 18:45. [PMID: 29848308 PMCID: PMC5977748 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-018-1186-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mice are a natural host for Rodentibacter (R.) pneumotropicus. Despite specific monitoring, it is still one of the most important infectious agents in laboratory animals. The objective of this study was to determine the virulence of a prevalent pathotype of R. pneumotropicus and characterize the host response in a new animal model. RESULTS Intranasal infection of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice with a R. pneumotropicus strain (JF4Ni) bearing the genes of the three known repeats in toxin (RTX) toxins resulted in an unprecedented high mortality and morbidity above 50 and 80%, respectively. Morbidity was associated with severe weight loss as well as conjunctivitis and dyspnea. A main pathology was a catarrhal purulent to necrotic bronchopneumonia. Specific immune globuline (Ig) A was detected in tracheonasal lavages of most surviving mice which were still colonized by R. pneumotropicus. Furthermore, all surviving animals showed a distinct production of IgG antibodies. To differentiate T-helper cell (Th) 1 and Th2 immune responses we used subclasses of IgGs as indicators. Mean ratios of IgG2b to IgG1 were below 0.8 in sera drawn from both mice strains prior infection and from BALB/c mice post infection. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice had a mean IgG2b/IgG1 ratio of 1.6 post infection indicating a Th1 immune response in C57BL/6 versus a Th2 response in BALB/c mice associated with a tenfold higher bacterial load in the lung. In accordance with a Th1 response high antigen-specific IgG2c titers were detected in the majority of surviving C57BL/6 mice. CONCLUSIONS R. pneumotropicus JF4Ni is a highly virulent strain causing severe pneumonia and septicemia after intranasal infection of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. Persisting infections in the two mice strains are associated with Th1 and Th2 immune responses, respectively, and differences in the bacterial burden of the lung. The described model is ideally suited for future vaccination studies using the natural host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Fornefett
- Institute for Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jaqueline Krause
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kristin Klose
- Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Felix Fingas
- GVG Diagnostics GmbH, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy and Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rayk Hassert
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy and Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Laurentiu Benga
- Central Unit for Animal Research and Animal Welfare Affairs, Heinrich-Heine-University, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Grunwald
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uwe Müller
- Institute of Immunology/Molecular Pathogenesis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland Schrödl
- Institute for Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Georg Baums
- Institute for Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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Benga L, Sager M, Christensen H. From the [ Pasteurella ] pneumotropica complex to Rodentibacter spp.: an update on [ Pasteurella ] pneumotropica. Vet Microbiol 2018; 217:121-134. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Weinreich S, Eulderink F, Capkova J, Pla M, Gaede K, Heesemann J, van Alphen L, Zurcher C, Hoebe-Hewryk B, Kievits F. HLA-B27 as a relative risk factor in ankylosing enthesopathy in transgenic mice. Hum Immunol 1995; 42:103-15. [PMID: 7744613 DOI: 10.1016/0198-8859(94)00034-n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
HLA-B27 is a risk factor for several human diseases through a mechanism that is not yet understood. This article describes a naturally occurring joint disease in laboratory mice, ANKENT. ANKENT begins with mild inflammation and culminates in irreversible stiffening of the ankle and/or tarsal joints in one or both hind paws. The macroscopic and histologic features of ANKENT, its relationship to age, gender, and environment, and some immunologic aspects are considered. With respect to genetics, it is demonstrated that an HLA-B27 transgene is a relative risk factor for ANKENT. Its impact depends on the H-2 haplotype, reaching a relative risk value of 9.4 for C57Bl/10, H-2b males (p < 0.025). Several features of ANKENT are reminiscent of human AS: joint pathology, age and gender distribution, the presence of non-MHC as well as MHC risk factors (including HLA-B27), and the suspicion that environmental factors are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Weinreich
- Central Laboratory, The Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam
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