scholarly journals Establishment and validation of a guinea pig model for human congenital toxoplasmosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Grochow ◽  
Britta Beck ◽  
Zaida Rentería-Solís ◽  
Gereon Schares ◽  
Pavlo Maksimov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Suitable Model ◽  
Infection Dose ◽  
Suitable Animal Model ◽  
Duration Of Infection ◽  
Gestational Stage ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution. Congenital infection in humans and animals may lead to severe symptoms in the offspring, especially in the brain. A suitable animal model for human congenital toxoplasmosis is currently lacking. The aim of this study is to establish and validate the guinea pig as a model for human congenital toxoplasmosis by investigating the impact of the T. gondii infection dose, the duration of infection and the gestational stage at infection on the seroconversion, survival rate of dams, fate of the offspring, T. gondii DNA loads in various offspring tissues and organs and the integrity of the offspring brain. Methods Pregnant guinea pigs were infected with three different doses (10, 100, 500 oocysts) of T. gondii strain ME49 at three different time points during gestation (15, 30, 48 days post-conception). Serum of dams was tested for the presence of T. gondii antibodies using immunoblotting. T. gondii DNA levels in the dam and offspring were determined by qPCR. Offspring brains were examined histologically. Results We found the survival rate of dams and fate of the offspring to be highly dependent on the T. gondii infection dose with an inoculation of 500 oocysts ending lethally for all respective offspring. Moreover, both parameters differ depending on the gestational stage at infection with infection in the first and third trimester of gestation resulting in a high offspring mortality rate. The duration of infection was found to substantially impact the seroconversion rate of dams with the probability of seroconversion exceeding 50% after day 20 post-infection. Furthermore, the infection duration of dams influenced the T. gondii DNA loads in the offspring and the integrity of offspring brain. Highest DNA levels were found in the offspring brain of dams infected for  ≥ 34 days. Conclusion This study contributes to establishing the guinea pig as a suitable model for human congenital toxoplasmosis and thus lays the foundation for using the guinea pig as a suitable animal model to study scientific questions of high topicality and clinical significance, which address the pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Graphical abstract

scholarly journals The ascorbate-deficient guinea pig model of shigellosis allows the study of the entire Shigella life cycle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonin C André ◽  
Céline Mulet ◽  
Mark C Anderson ◽  
Louise Injarabian ◽  
Achim Buch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Colonic Mucosa ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Pig Model ◽  
Suitable Animal Model ◽  
Guinea Pig Model

AbstractShigella spp. are the causative agents of bacillary dysentery or shigellosis, mainly in children living in developing countries. The study of Shigella entire life cycle in vivo and the evaluation of vaccine candidates’ protection efficacy have been hampered by the lack of a suitable animal model of infection (1). None of the ones evaluated so far (mouse, rabbit, guinea pig) allows to recapitulate shigellosis symptoms upon Shigella oral challenge. Historical reports suggest that dysentery and scurvy are both metabolic diseases associated with ascorbate-deficiency. Mammals which are susceptible to Shigella infection (humans, non-human primates and guinea pigs) are the lonely ones which are unable to synthesize ascorbate. We optimized a low-ascorbate diet to induce moderate ascorbate-deficiency but not scurvy in guinea pigs (Ascplasma conc.=1.6 μM vs 36 μM with optimal ascorbate supply). We demonstrated that moderate ascorbate-deficiency increases shigellosis severity during extended period of time (up to 48h) with all strains tested (Shigella flexneri 5a and 2a, Shigella sonnei). At late time-points, a massive influx of neutrophils was observed both within the disrupted colonic mucosa and in the luminal compartment, although Shigella remains able to disseminate deep into the organ to reach the sub-mucosal layer and the bloodstream. This new model of shigellosis opens new doors for the study both of Shigella infection strategy and innate and adaptive immune responses to Shigella infection. It may be also of a great interest to study the virulence of other pathogen for which no suitable animal model of infection is available (Vibrio cholerae, Yersinia pestis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Campylobacter jejuni, among others).SignificanceThe study of Shigella virulence cycle in vivo has been hampered by the lack of a suitable animal model, which would allow the colonic mucosa infection upon oral challenge. Based on historical reports and physiological aspects, it was suggested that ascorbate-deficiency may stand as a new dysentery risk-factor. To test this hypothesis, we set up a new ascorbate-deficient guinea pig model and demonstrated for the first time that the Shigella infectious process occurred for extended period of time (up to 48h) and demonstrated that shigellosis severity was higher in ascorbate-deficient animal. Ascorbate-deficient guinea pig model of infection may be used to assess the virulence of other pathogens for which no suitable animal model of infection is still lacking.

Contributions of Zebrafish Studies on the Behavioural Consequences of Early Alcohol Exposure: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávia Gheller Schaidhauer ◽  
Higor Arruda Caetano ◽  
Guilherme Pietro da Silva ◽  
Rosane Souza da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Animal Model ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Ethanol Exposure ◽  
Learning Problems ◽  
Behavioural Effects ◽  
Suitable Animal Model ◽  
Comprehensive Search ◽  
The Impact

Background: The consequences of mild to severe exposure to alcohol during brain development is still a matter of debate and scientific investigation. The long-term behavioural effects of ethanol exposure have been related to impaired social skills and cognition. Zebrafish have become a suitable animal model to investigate the effects of early ethanol exposure because it is very feasible to promote drug delivery during early development. Objective: The goal of the current report is to review existing behavioural studies addressing the impact of early alcohol exposure using zebrafish to determine whether these models resemble the behavioural effects of early alcohol exposure in humans. Methods: A comprehensive search of biomedical databases was performed using the operation order: “ZEBRAFISH AND BEHAV* AND (ETHANOL OR ALCOHOL)”. The eligibility of studies was determined using the PICOS strategy, contemplating the population as zebrafish, intervention as exposure to ethanol, comparison with a non-exposed control animal, and outcomes as behavioural parameters. Results: The systematic search returned 29 scientific articles as eligible. The zebrafish is presented as a versatile animal model that is useful to study FASD short and long-term behaviour impairments, such as anxiety, impaired sociability, aggressiveness, learning problems, memory impairment, seizure susceptibility, sleep disorders, motivational problems, and addiction. Conclusion: This systematic review serves to further promote the use of zebrafish as a model system to study the pathophysiological and behavioural consequences of early alcohol exposure.

Paired helical filaments (PHF) in rats: An experimental animal model for Alzheimer's disease

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 842-843
Author(s):  
V.J.A. Montpetit ◽  
S. Dancea ◽  
S.W. French ◽  
D.F. Clapin
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Model ◽  
Paired Helical Filaments ◽  
Ethanol Intoxication ◽  
Drg Neurons ◽  
Critical Difference ◽  
Suitable Animal Model ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Chronic Ethanol Intoxication

A continuing problem in Alzheimer research is the lack of a suitable animal model for the disease. The absence of neurofibrillary tangles of paired helical filaments is the most critical difference in the processes by which the central nervous system ages in most species other than man. However, restricting consideration to single phenomena, one may identify animal models for specific aspects of Alzheimer's disease. Abnormal fibers resembling PHF have been observed in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons of rats in a study of chronic ethanol intoxication and spontaneously in aged rats. We present in this report evidence that PHF-like filaments occur in ethanol-treated rats of young age. In control animals lesions similar in some respects to our observations of cytoskeletal pathology in pyridoxine induced neurotoxicity were observed.Male Wistar BR rats (Charles River Labs) weighing 350 to 400 g, were implanted with a single gastrostomy cannula and infused with a liquid diet containing 30% of total calories as fat plus ethanol or isocaloric dextrose.

scholarly journals High Expression of KLF10 Is Associated with Favorable Survival in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Chung-Min Yeh ◽  
Yi-Ju Lee ◽  
Po-Yun Ko ◽  
Yueh-Min Lin ◽  
Wen-Wei Sung
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Oral Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Cancer Stage ◽  
Independent Prognostic Marker ◽  
Oral Cancer Patients ◽  
The Impact

Background and objectives: Krüppel-like transcription factor 10 (KLF10) plays a vital role in regulating cell proliferation, including the anti-proliferative process, activation of apoptosis, and differentiation control. KLF10 may also act as a protective factor against oral cancer. We studied the impact of KLF10 expression on the clinical outcomes of oral cancer patients to identify its role as a prognostic factor in oral cancer. Materials and Methods: KLF10 immunoreactivity was analyzed by immunohistochemical (IHC) stain analysis in 286 cancer specimens from primary oral cancer patients. The prognostic value of KLF10 on overall survival was determined by Kaplan–Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: High KLF10 expression was significantly associated with male gender and betel quid chewing. The 5-year survival rate was greater for patients with high KLF10 expression than for those with low KLF10 expression (62.5% vs. 51.3%, respectively; p = 0.005), and multivariate analyses showed that high KLF10 expression was the only independent factor correlated with greater overall patient survival. The significant correlation between high KLF10 expression and a higher 5-year survival rate was observed in certain subgroups of clinical parameters, including female gender, non-smokers, cancer stage T1, and cancer stage N0. Conclusions: KLF10 expression, detected by IHC staining, could be an independent prognostic marker for oral cancer patients.

Measurement of inactive renin in normal, nephrectomized, and adrenalectomized rats

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 1381-1384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knud Poulsen ◽  
Arne Høj Nielsen ◽  
Arne Johannessen
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Exchange Resin ◽  
Cation Exchange Resin ◽  
Plasma Renin ◽  
Rat Plasma ◽  
Angiotensin I ◽  
Renin Substrate ◽  
Suitable Animal Model ◽  
Inactive Renin ◽  
Adrenalectomized Rats

In a new method for measurement of inactive rat plasma renin, the trypsin generated angiotensin I immunoreactive material, which was HPLC characterized as similar to tetradecapeptide renin substrate, is removed by a cation exchange resin before the renin incubation step. The method also corrects for trypsin destruction of endogenous angiotensinogen by the addition of exogenous angiotensinogen. When measured with this method inactive renin in rat plasma decreased after nephrectomy and increased after adrenalectomy. This is in accordance with findings in humans. A sexual dimorphism of prorenin (inactive renin) in rat plasma, similar to that reported in humans and mice, was demonstrated. Thus, inactive renin in the rat is no exception among species, and the rat might be a suitable animal model for further studies dealing with the physiology of prorenin in plasma and tissues.Key words: angiotensinogen, inactive renin, renin.

scholarly journals The impact of bronchial artery embolisation on the quality of life of patients with haemoptysis: a prospective observational study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoki Omachi ◽  
Hideo Ishikawa ◽  
Masahiko Hara ◽  
Takashi Nishihara ◽  
Yu Yamaguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Bronchial Artery ◽  
Recurrence Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Procedural Success ◽  
Bronchial Artery Embolisation ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives Patients with haemoptysis often experience daily physical and mental impairment. Bronchial artery embolisation is among the first-line treatment options used worldwide; however, no evidence exists regarding the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after bronchial artery embolisation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of bronchial artery embolisation on the HRQoL of patients with haemoptysis. Methods We prospectively enrolled 61 consecutive patients who visited our hospital from July 2017 to August 2018 and received bronchial artery embolisation for haemoptysis. The primary outcome was the HRQoL evaluated using the Short Form Health Survey, which contains physical and mental components, before and after bronchial artery embolisation. The secondary outcomes were procedural success, complications, and recurrence-free survival rate at 6 months. Results The mean age of the patients was 69 years (range, 31–87 years). The procedural success rate was 98%. No major complications occurred. The recurrence-free survival rate estimated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis at 6 months after bronchial artery embolisation was 91.8% (95% confidence interval, 91.1–92.5%). Compared with the pre-treatment scores, the physical and mental scores were significantly improved at 6 months after bronchial artery embolisation (p < 0.05). Conclusion Bronchial artery embolisation improved the HRQoL of patients with haemoptysis. Key Points • Bronchial artery embolisation improved the HRQoL of patients with haemoptysis. • Vessel dilation on computed tomography and systemic artery-pulmonary artery direct shunting on angiography were the most common abnormalities. • The recurrence-free survival rate estimated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis at 6 months after bronchial artery embolisation was 91.8%.

scholarly journals Lipopolysaccharide decreases cochlear blood flow dose dependently in a guinea pig animal model via TNF signaling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friedrich Ihler ◽  
Saskia Freytag ◽  
Benedikt Kloos ◽  
Jennifer Lee Spiegel ◽  
Frank Haubner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Cochlear Blood Flow ◽  
Pig Animal Model

scholarly journals LGK974 suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia in mice by modulating the crosstalk between the Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-421
Author(s):  
Jaewoong Jang ◽  
Jaewon Song ◽  
Hyunji Lee ◽  
Inae Sim ◽  
Young V. Kwon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Survival Rate ◽  
Wnt Pathway ◽  
Cytokine Production ◽  
Cytokine Storm ◽  
Plasma Cytokine ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Multiple Organs ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Cytokine Levels

AbstractEndotoxemia, a type of sepsis caused by gram-negative bacterial endotoxin [i.e., lipopolysaccharide (LPS)], is associated with manifestations such as cytokine storm; failure of multiple organs, including the liver; and a high mortality rate. We investigated the effect and mechanism of action of LGK974, a Wnt signaling inhibitor, in mice with LPS-induced endotoxemia, an animal model of sepsis. LGK974 significantly and dose-dependently increased the survival rate and reduced plasma cytokine levels in mice with LPS-induced endotoxemia. Transcriptome analysis of liver tissues revealed significant changes in the expression of genes associated with the Wnt pathway as well as cytokine and NF-κB signaling during endotoxemia. LGK974 treatment suppressed the activation of NF-κB signaling and cytokine expression as well as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the livers of endotoxemic mice. Coimmunoprecipitation of phospho-IκB and β-transducin repeat-containing protein (β-TrCP) was increased in the livers of endotoxemic mice but was reduced by LGK974 treatment. Moreover, LGK974 treatment decreased the coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization of β-catenin and NF-κB, which were elevated in the livers of endotoxemic mice. Our results reveal crosstalk between the Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB pathways via interactions between β-TrCP and phospho-IκB and between β-catenin and NF-κB during endotoxemia. The results of this study strongly suggest that the crosstalk between the Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB pathways contributes to the mutual activation of these two pathways during endotoxemia, which results in amplified cytokine production, liver damage and death, and that LGK974 suppresses this vicious amplification cycle by reducing the crosstalk between these two pathways.

scholarly journals Novel antibody binding determinants on the capsid surface of serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 1104-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin S. Asfor ◽  
Sasmita Upadhyaya ◽  
Nick J. Knowles ◽  
Donald P. King ◽  
David J. Paton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Foot And Mouth Disease ◽  
Mouth Disease ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Serotype O ◽  
Antigenic Sites ◽  
Mouth Disease Virus ◽  
Foot And Mouth ◽  
The Impact

Five neutralizing antigenic sites have been described for serotype O foot-and-mouth disease viruses (FMDV) based on monoclonal antibody (mAb) escape mutant studies. However, a mutant virus selected to escape neutralization of mAb binding at all five sites was previously shown to confer complete cross-protection with the parental virus in guinea pig challenge studies, suggesting that amino acid residues outside the mAb binding sites contribute to antibody-mediated in vivo neutralization of FMDV. Comparison of the ability of bovine antisera to neutralize a panel of serotype O FMDV identified three novel putative sites at VP2-74, VP2-191 and VP3-85, where amino acid substitutions correlated with changes in sero-reactivity. The impact of these positions was tested using site-directed mutagenesis to effect substitutions at critical amino acid residues within an infectious copy of FMDV O1 Kaufbeuren (O1K). Recovered viruses containing additional mutations at VP2-74 and VP2-191 exhibited greater resistance to neutralization with both O1K guinea pig and O BFS bovine antisera than a virus that was engineered to include only mutations at the five known antigenic sites. The changes at VP2-74 and VP3-85 are adjacent to critical amino acids that define antigenic sites 2 and 4, respectively. However VP2-191 (17 Å away from VP2-72), located at the threefold axis and more distant from previously identified antigenic sites, exhibited the most profound effect. These findings extend our knowledge of the surface features of the FMDV capsid known to elicit neutralizing antibodies, and will improve our strategies for vaccine strain selection and rational vaccine design.

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