| First Author | Chen CC | Year | 2005 |
| Journal | Infect Immun | Volume | 73 |
| Issue | 9 | Pages | 5468-81 |
| PubMed ID | 16113263 | Mgi Jnum | J:100416 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3588467 | Doi | 10.1128/IAI.73.9.5468-5481.2005 |
| Citation | Chen CC, et al. (2005) Concurrent infection with an intestinal helminth parasite impairs host resistance to enteric Citrobacter rodentium and enhances Citrobacter-induced colitis in mice. Infect Immun 73(9):5468-81 |
| abstractText | Infections with intestinal helminth and bacterial pathogens, such as enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, continue to be a major global health threat for children. To test the hypothesis that intestinal helminth infection may be a risk factor for enteric bacterial infection, a murine model was established by using the intestinal helminth Heligomosomoides polygyrus. To analyze the modulatory effect of a Th2-inducing helminth on the outcome of enteric bacterium Citrobacter rodentium infection, BALB/c and STAT 6 knockout (KO) mice were infected with H. polygyrus, C. rodentium, or both. We found that only BALB/c mice coinfected with H. polygyrus and C. rodentium displayed a marked morbidity and mortality. The enhanced susceptibility to C. rodentium and intestinal injury of coinfected BALB/c mice were shown to be associated with a significant increase in helminth-driven Th2 responses, mucosally and systemically, and correlated with a significant downregulation of protective gamma interferon and with a dramatic upregulation of the proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha response. In addition, C. rodentium-associated colonic pathology in coinfected BALB/c mice was significantly enhanced, whereas bacterial burden was increased and clearance was delayed. In contrast, coinfection in STAT 6 KO mice failed to promote C. rodentium infection or to induce a more severe intestinal inflammation and tissue injury, demonstrating a mechanism by which helminth influences the development of host protective immunity and susceptibility to bacterial infections. We conclude that H. polygyrus coinfection can promote C. rodentium-associated disease and colitis through a STAT 6-mediated immune mechanism. |
