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Silkworm model for Bacillus anthracis infection and virulence determination
Title: | Silkworm model for Bacillus anthracis infection and virulence determination |
Authors: | Paudel, Atmika Browse this author →KAKEN DB | Furuta, Yoshikazu Browse this author | Higashi, Hideaki Browse this author →KAKEN DB |
Keywords: | Bacillus anthracis | bombyx mori | silkworm | virulence | animal model | host-pathogen interaction |
Issue Date: | 7-Sep-2021 |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Journal Title: | Virulence |
Volume: | 12 |
Issue: | 1 |
Start Page: | 2285 |
End Page: | 2295 |
Publisher DOI: | 10.1080/21505594.2021.1965830 |
Abstract: | Bacillus anthracis is an obligate pathogen and a causative agent of anthrax. Its major virulence factors are plasmid-coded; however, recent studies have revealed chromosome-encoded virulence factors, indicating that the current understanding of its virulence mechanism is elusive and needs further investigation. In this study, we established a silkworm (Bombyx mori) infection model of B. anthracis. We showed that silkworms were killed by B. anthracis Sterne and cured of the infection when administered with antibiotics. We quantitatively determined the lethal dose of the bacteria that kills 50% larvae and effective doses of antibiotics that cure 50% infected larvae. Furthermore, we demonstrated that B. anthracis mutants with disruption in virulence genes such as pagA, lef, and atxA had attenuated silkworm-killing ability and reduced colonization in silkworm hemolymph. The silkworm infection model established in this study can be utilized in large-scale infection experiments to identify novel virulence determinants and develop novel therapeutic options against B. anthracis infections. |
Type: | article |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2115/82931 |
Appears in Collections: | 人獣共通感染症国際共同研究所 (International Institute for Zoonosis Control) > 雑誌発表論文等 (Peer-reviewed Journal Articles, etc)
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