Bartonella infections are prevalent in rodents despite efficient immune responses.
Antigen escape
Bacterial dynamics
Disease ecology
Ecoimmunology
Host–pathogen interactions
Microbial ecology
Recurrent bacteremia
Journal
Parasites & vectors
ISSN: 1756-3305
Titre abrégé: Parasit Vectors
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101462774
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 Sep 2023
04 Sep 2023
Historique:
received:
26
06
2023
accepted:
06
08
2023
medline:
6
9
2023
pubmed:
5
9
2023
entrez:
4
9
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Pathogens face strong selection from host immune responses, yet many host populations support pervasive pathogen populations. We investigated this puzzle in a model system of Bartonella and rodents from Israel's northwestern Negev Desert. We chose to study this system because, in this region, 75-100% of rodents are infected with Bartonella at any given time, despite an efficient immunological response. In this region, Bartonella species circulate in three rodent species, and we tested the hypothesis that at least one of these hosts exhibits a waning immune response to Bartonella, which allows reinfections. We inoculated captive animals of all three rodent species with the same Bartonella strain, and we quantified the bacterial dynamics and Bartonella-specific immunoglobulin G antibody kinetics over a period of 139 days after the primary inoculation, and then for 60 days following reinoculation with the same strain. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found a strong, long-lasting immunoglobulin G antibody response, with protective immunological memory in all three rodent species. That response prevented reinfection upon exposure of the rodents to the same Bartonella strain. This study constitutes an initial step toward understanding how the interplay between traits of Bartonella and their hosts influences the epidemiological dynamics of these pathogens in nature.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Pathogens face strong selection from host immune responses, yet many host populations support pervasive pathogen populations. We investigated this puzzle in a model system of Bartonella and rodents from Israel's northwestern Negev Desert. We chose to study this system because, in this region, 75-100% of rodents are infected with Bartonella at any given time, despite an efficient immunological response. In this region, Bartonella species circulate in three rodent species, and we tested the hypothesis that at least one of these hosts exhibits a waning immune response to Bartonella, which allows reinfections.
METHODS
METHODS
We inoculated captive animals of all three rodent species with the same Bartonella strain, and we quantified the bacterial dynamics and Bartonella-specific immunoglobulin G antibody kinetics over a period of 139 days after the primary inoculation, and then for 60 days following reinoculation with the same strain.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Contrary to our hypothesis, we found a strong, long-lasting immunoglobulin G antibody response, with protective immunological memory in all three rodent species. That response prevented reinfection upon exposure of the rodents to the same Bartonella strain.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
This study constitutes an initial step toward understanding how the interplay between traits of Bartonella and their hosts influences the epidemiological dynamics of these pathogens in nature.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37667323
doi: 10.1186/s13071-023-05918-7
pii: 10.1186/s13071-023-05918-7
pmc: PMC10478473
doi:
Substances chimiques
Immunoglobulin G
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
315Subventions
Organisme : National Science Foundation
ID : DEB-1813069
Organisme : Israel Science Foundation
ID : 1391/15
Informations de copyright
© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.
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