Importance of the epa locus of Enterococcus faecalis OG1RF in a mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection - PubMed (original) (raw)

Comparative Study

. 2009 Aug 1;200(3):417-20.

doi: 10.1086/600124.

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Comparative Study

Importance of the epa locus of Enterococcus faecalis OG1RF in a mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection

Kavindra V Singh et al. J Infect Dis. 2009.

Abstract

Previously, TX5179, a disruption mutant of the enterococcal polysaccharide antigen (epa) gene cluster of Enterococcus faecalis strain OG1RF was shown to be attenuated in translocation, biofilm, mouse peritonitis and was more susceptible to polymorphonuclear leukocyte phagocytic killing. Here, wild-type E. faecalis OG1RF and TX5179 strains were tested in a mixed-infection (inoculum, approximately 1:1) mouse urinary tract infection model. Wild-type OG1RF outnumbered TX5179 in the kidneys (P < .001) and bladder (P < .001). In conclusion, the epa locus of E. faecalis OG1RF contributes to murine urinary tract infection and is the first such enterococcal polysaccharide locus shown to be important in this site.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest: none reported.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Results for urinary tract infection. Mixed infection (competition assay) with wild-type Enterococcus faecalis OG1RF and TX5179 (epaB; formerly orfde4) gene disruption mutant) in the kidneys and urinary bladder of 22 mice. Data are expressed as log10 colony-forming units (cfu) of wild-type E. faecalis OG1RF or TX5179. Empty and solid triangles represent wild-type E. faecalis OG1RF and TX5179, respectively, from kidney and urinary bladder homogenates. Horizontal bars represent geometric mean titers. Mean fold difference in log10 cfu are given. Log10 cfu were compared for statistical significance using a paired t test. SD, standard deviation.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Growth curves and levels of colony-forming units (cfu). Empty squares, OG1RF; solid squares, TX5180. A, Comparison of wild-type OG1RF and TX5179 growth in Bacto Brain-Heart Infusion broth (Becton Dickinson) medium with 40% horse serum. Optical densities (OD600) were measured every hour until 8 h and then at 14 and 24 h. B, The level of cfu determined at 0 h, 6 h, and 24 h.

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