Neutrophils are important in early control of lung infection by Yersinia pestis

Microbes Infect. 2010 Apr;12(4):331-5. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2010.01.007. Epub 2010 Jan 28.

Abstract

In this paper we evaluate the role of neutrophils in pneumonic plague. Splenic neutrophils from naïve BALB/c mice were found to reduce numbers of culturable Yersinia pestis strain GB in suspension. A murine, BALB/c, intranasal model of pneumonic plague was used in conjunction with in vivo neutrophil ablation, using the GR-1 antibody. This treatment reduced neutrophil numbers without affecting other leukocyte numbers. Neutrophil ablated mice exhibited increased bacterial colonisation of the lung 24h post infection. Furthermore, exposure of Y. pestis to human neutrophils resulted in a 5-fold reduction in the number of viable bacterial cells, whereas, PBMCs had no effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Reduction Procedures
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lung / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microbial Viability
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Plague / immunology*
  • Yersinia pestis / immunology*
  • Young Adult