Modeling gastrointestinal anthrax disease.
Res Microbiol
; 174(6): 104026, 2023.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36646261
ABSTRACT
Bacillus anthracis is a spore-forming microbe that persists in soil and causes anthrax disease. The most natural route of infection is ingestion by grazing animals. Gastrointestinal (GI) anthrax also occurs in their monogastric predators, including humans. Exposure of carcasses to oxygen triggers sporulation and contamination of the surrounding soil completing the unusual life cycle of this microbe. The pathogenesis of GI anthrax is poorly characterized. Here, we use B. anthracis carrying the virulence plasmids pXO1 and pXO2, to model gastrointestinal disease in Guinea pigs and mice. We find that spores germinate in the GI tract and precipitate disease in a dose-dependent manner. Inoculation of vegetative bacilli also results in GI anthrax. Virulence is impacted severely by the loss of capsule (pXO2-encoded) but only moderately in absence of toxins (pXO1-encoded). Nonetheless, the lack of toxins leads to reduced bacterial replication in infected hosts. B. cereus Elc4, a strain isolated from a fatal case of inhalational anthrax-like disease, was also found to cause GI anthrax. Because transmission to new hosts depends on the release of large numbers of spores in the environment, we propose that the acquisition of pXO1- and pXO2-like plasmids may promote the successful expansion of members of the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group able to cause anthrax-like disease.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Bacillus
/
Bacillus anthracis
/
Toxinas Bacterianas
/
Enfermedades Gastrointestinales
/
Carbunco
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Res Microbiol
Asunto de la revista:
MICROBIOLOGIA
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos