scholarly journals New Murine Model for the Study of Chlamydia trachomatis Genitourinary Tract Infections in Males

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 4210-4216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukumar Pal ◽  
Ellena M. Peterson ◽  
Luis M. de la Maza

ABSTRACT The lack of an experimental model has significantly limited the understanding of the pathogenesis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in males. In an attempt to establish a model using the natural route of infection, we inoculated male mice in the meatus urethra. To establish the 50% infectious dose (ID50), C3H/HeN (H-2k ) male mice were inoculated in the meatus urethra with doses ranging from 101 to 107 inclusion-forming units (IFU) of C. trachomatis mouse pneumonitis biovar (MoPn) and were euthanized at 10 days postinfection (p.i.). Approximately 50% of the animals inoculated with 5 × 104 IFU had positive cultures of the urethra, urinary bladder, epididymides, and/or testes. Subsequently, to characterize the course of the infection, a group of animals was inoculated with 106 IFU/mouse (20 times the ID50). Positive cultures from the urethra, urinary bladder, epididymides, and testes were obtained from the animals. The infection peaked in the first 2 weeks p.i. and subsequently declined over the 7 weeks of observation. C. trachomatis-specific antibodies were first detected in serum by 2 weeks p.i. and rose over the period of observation. The titers of immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) were 16-fold higher than those of IgG1. A lymphoproliferative assay using splenocytes and local lymph nodes showed a strong cell-mediated immune response. Levels of gamma interferon were significantly higher than those of interleukin-4 in the supernatants from stimulated lymphocytes. An acute inflammatory infiltrate consisting of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was detected in the urethra at 1 week p.i. At 3 weeks p.i., a mixed acute and chronic inflammatory infiltrate was observed in the urethra that by 5 to 6 weeks was mainly composed of mononuclear cells. Similar findings were also observed in the urinary bladder, although the inflammatory infiltrate was delayed by approximately a week relative to that in the urethra. Sections of the epididymides showed a focal acute inflammatory infiltrate at 2 weeks p.i. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated multiple chlamydial inclusions in the epithelium of the urethra and urinary bladder. No chlamydial inclusions were observed in the epididymides or testes. In conclusion, inoculation of male mice in the meatus urethra with C. trachomatis MoPn results in an infection of the genitourinary tract that closely parallels that described in humans. This model should help to characterize the pathogenesis of chlamydial infections in males and to test therapeutic and preventive measures.

2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 5602-5607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukumar Pal ◽  
Annahita K. Sarcon ◽  
Luis M. de la Maza

ABSTRACT The pathogenesis of an infection of the male genitourinary tract of mice with a human serovar of Chlamydia trachomatis has not been characterized. To establish a new model, we inoculated C3H/HeN (H-2 k ) mice in the meatus urethra with C. trachomatis serovar D. To determine the 50% infectious dose (ID50), male mice were inoculated with doses ranging from 102 to 106 inclusion-forming units (IFU). The mice were euthanized 10 days post infection (p.i.), and the urethra, bladder, epididimydes, and testes were cultured for Chlamydia. Positive cultures were obtained from the urethra, urinary bladder, and epididimydes, and the ID50 was determined to be 5 × 104 IFU/mouse. Subsequently, to characterize the course of the infection, wild-type (WT) and C3H animals with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID animals) were inoculated with 106 IFU/mouse (20 times the ID50). In the WT mice, the infection peaked in the second week, and by 42 days p.i., it was cleared. In contrast, most of the SCID mice continued to have positive cultures at 60 days p.i. C. trachomatis-specific antibodies were first detected in WT animals' sera at 21 days p.i. and increased until 42 days p.i. The immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) titers were 32-fold higher than those of IgG1, indicative of a Th1-biased immune response. A lymphoproliferative assay using splenocytes showed a significant cell-mediated immune response in the WT mice. As expected, no humoral or cell-mediated immune responses were observed in the SCID animals. In conclusion, inoculation of WT male mice in the meatus urethra with a human serovar of C. trachomatis resulted in a limited infection mainly localized to the lower genitourinary tract. On the other hand, SCID animals could not clear the infection, suggesting that in male mice, the adaptive immune response is necessary to control an infection with a C. trachomatis human serovar.


2016 ◽  
pp. 137-139
Author(s):  
K.P. Golovatyuk ◽  

The objective: was to investigate the levels of cytokines IL-4 and IL-17 in serum and conditioned medium cultures of blood mononuclear cells (MNC) and evaluation association between their products and miscarriage, which occurred in IVF cycles. Patients and methods. We observed 240 patients with recurrent miscarriage, came in IVF cycles, and 100 apparently healthy fertile women in the control group. The concentrations of IL-4 and IL-17 in serum and conditioned medium of MNC cultures were determined. Results. The levels of IL-4 in the serum and conditioned medium in spontaneous and stimulated mitogen secretion was not significantly different from those in the control group, whereas IL-17 levels were higher than those in the control group serum, in conditioned media of stimulated and non-stimulated MNCs. Conclusion. Disregulation of activity of circulating blood mononuclear cells in women with recurrent miscarriage that followed IVF, is accompanied by increased secretion of IL-17 and almost constant production of IL-4 on the back of high stimulation index of production of these cytokines. Key words: in vitro fertilization, miscarriage, interleukin-4, interleukin-17, serum stimulated and non-stimulated mononuclear blood.


Author(s):  
Sara Abolghasemi ◽  
Mohammad Alizadeh ◽  
Ali Hashemi ◽  
Shabnam Tehrani

Introduction: Epididymo-orchitis is a common urological disease among men. Little is known about the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the disease in Iran. Thus, the present study was aimed to investigate the etiology, clinical sequelae and risk factors of patients with epididymo-orchitis in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: Patients presenting with epididymo-orchitis were prospectively analyzed in order to study the etiology and pattern of the disease. Bacteriological, molecular and serological tests were undertaken to look for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Brucella spp., Mycoplasma spp, and other bacteria. Results: Fifty patients with epididymo-orchitis were evaluated according to their clinical symptoms, duration of symptoms, physical examination, and laboratory studies. The mean age of the patients was 53 years. Fever, dysuria, pain in the flanks, urinary frequency and discharges occurred in 58.0%, 50.0%, 50.0%, 28.0% and 6.0%, respectively. Bacterial pathogen was identified in 26% (13/50) of patients by urine culture. Escherichia coli was the etiological agent in 11/13 patients (84.6%). Two out of 50 patients (4.0%) were also positive for Chlamydia trachomatis. Two samples were serologically positive for Brucella spp. High Mean age, fever, urinary frequency, history of the underlying disease and history of urinary tract infections were found to have a significant association with the positive bacteriologic urine culture (P<0.05). Conclusions: The most common clinical manifestations were fever, dysuria, and abdominal pain. E. coli and C. trachomatis were the major causative agents. Use of a set of diagnostic approaches including clinical symptoms, urine culture and more precise techniques such as PCR should be taken into consideration for the definitive diagnosis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hacer Kuzu Okur ◽  
Koray Yalcin ◽  
Cihan Tastan ◽  
Sevda Demir ◽  
Bulut Yurtsever ◽  
...  

UNSTRUCTURED Dornase alfa, the recombinant form of the human DNase I enzyme, breaks down neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) that include a vast amount of DNA fragments, histones, microbicidal proteins and oxidant enzymes released from necrotic neutrophils in the highly viscous mucus of cystic fibrosis patients. Dornase alfa has been used for decades in patients with cystic fibrosis to reduce the viscoelasticity of respiratory tract secretions, to decrease the severity of respiratory tract infections, and to improve lung function. Previous studies have linked abnormal NET formations to lung diseases, especially to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected more than two million people over the world, resulting in unprecedented health, social and economic crises. The COVID-19, viral pneumonia that progresses to ARDS and even multiple organ failure, is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). High blood neutrophil levels are an early indicator of SARS-CoV-2 infection and predict severe respiratory diseases. A similar mucus structure is detected in COVID-19 patients due to the accumulation of excessive NET in the lungs. Here, we show our preliminary results with dornase alfa that may have an in-vitro anti-viral effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a bovine kidney cell line, MDBK without drug toxicity on healthy adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In this preliminary study, we also showed that dornase alfa can promote clearance of NET formation in both an in-vitro and three COVID-19 cases who showed clinical improvement in radiological analysis (2-of-3 cases), oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiratory rate, disappearing of dyspnea and coughing.


1993 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Faro

The most commonly sexually transmitted bacteria areNeisseria gonorrhoeaeandChlamydia trachomatis.The quinolones ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin have been shown to have activity against both of these bacteria in vitro and in vivo. Ofloxacin is particularly well suited for the treatment ofN. gonorrhoeaeandC. trachomatiscervical infection, which can be considered the earliest manifestation of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Not only can ofloxacin be effectively used as a single agent, it is also useful in treating urinary tract infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae. Although it has moderate activity against anaerobes in general, ofloxacin does have activity against the anaerobes commonly isolated from female patients with soft tissue pelvic infections. Thus, ofloxacin has the potential for being utilized to treat early salpingitis.


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