Development of Bioluminescent Cronobacter sakazakii ATCC 29544 in a Mouse Model

Abstract

Cronobacter sakazakii is an emerging pathogen that causes severe and life-threatening conditions including meningitis, bacteremia, and necrotizing enterocolitis. An animal model study for extrapolation of C. sakazakii infection can provide a better understanding of pathogenesis. However, methods for real-time monitoring of the course of C. sakazakii infection in living animals have been lacking. We developed a bioluminescent C. sakazakii strain (ATCC 29544) that can be used for real-time monitoring of C. sakazakii infection in BALB/c mice. C. sakazakii ATCC 29544 mainly colonized brain, liver, spleen, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract, as indicated by bioluminescence imaging. This work provides a novel approach for studying the progression of C. sakazakii infection and evaluating therapeutics in a living mouse model.

Bacteria meets influenza A virus: A bioluminescence mouse model of Escherichia coli O157:H7 following influenza A virus/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) strain infection

“…Bioluminescent bacteria, E. coli O157: H7-lux, were constructed by the introduction of the pBBR-lux plasmid as described previously. 10 The recombinant plasmid pBBR-lux and the monitoring of the bioluminescent intensity and stability have been described previously. 6,7 The luciferase-expressing bioluminescent strains were detected using a NightOWL II LB 983 in vivo Imaging System (Berthold Technologies, Bad Wildbad, Germany).…”