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Infection and Immunity, November 1999, p. 5699-5708, Vol. 67, No. 11
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0

Experimental Gonococcal Genital Tract Infection and Opacity Protein Expression in Estradiol-Treated Mice

Ann E. Jerse*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4799

Received 14 May 1999/Returned for modification 13 July 1999/Accepted 6 August 1999

The development of effective prophylactic agents against gonorrhea and the study of adaptation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae to the urogenital mucosa are hindered by the lack of a well-established animal model of gonococcal genital tract infection. Here, a murine model of long-term gonococcal genital tract infection is described. Female BALB/c mice were treated with 17-beta -estradiol and inoculated intravaginally with wild-type gonococcal strain FA1090 or MS11. N. gonorrhoeae was recovered from vaginal swabs for an average of 12 to 13 days following inoculation with 106 CFU of either strain. Inflammation occurred in over 80% of infected mice, and diplococci were associated with epithelial cells and neutrophils in stained vaginal smears. Ascended infection occurred in 17 to 20% of mice inoculated with strain FA1090. An outbred mouse strain (SLC:ddY) previously reported to be naturally susceptible to N. gonorrhoeae was also tested; however, as with BALB/c mice, estradiol was required for prolonged infection. Although piliation was not maintained during experimental murine infection, 46 to 100% of vaginal isolates from four of eight BALB/c mice and three of four SLC:ddY mice expressed one or more opacity (Opa) proteins within 4 days after inoculation with an Opa-negative variant of strain FA1090. The observed selection for and/or induction of gonococcal Opa protein expression during murine infection appears to parallel events that occur during experimental urethritis in volunteers.


* Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814-4799. Phone: (301) 295-9629. Fax: (301) 295-3773. E-mail: ajerse{at}mxb.usuhs.mil.


Infection and Immunity, November 1999, p. 5699-5708, Vol. 67, No. 11
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0



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