A mouse model reproducing the pathophysiology of neonatal group B streptococcal infection

Elva Bonifácio Andrade, Ana Magalhães, Ana Puga, Madalena Costa, Joana Bravo, Camila Cabral Portugal, Adília Ribeiro, Margarida Correia-Neves, Augusto Faustino, Arnaud Firon, Patrick Trieu-Cuot, Teresa Summavielle and Paula Ferreira ()
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Elva Bonifácio Andrade: Universidade do Porto
Ana Magalhães: Universidade do Porto
Ana Puga: Universidade do Porto
Madalena Costa: Universidade do Porto
Joana Bravo: Universidade do Porto
Camila Cabral Portugal: Universidade do Porto
Adília Ribeiro: Universidade do Porto
Margarida Correia-Neves: University of Minho
Augusto Faustino: Universidade do Porto
Arnaud Firon: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS ERL 6002)
Patrick Trieu-Cuot: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS ERL 6002)
Teresa Summavielle: Universidade do Porto
Paula Ferreira: Universidade do Porto

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis remains a devastating disease. The absence of an animal model reproducing the natural infectious process has limited our understanding of the disease and, consequently, delayed the development of effective treatments. We describe here a mouse model in which bacteria are transmitted to the offspring from vaginally colonised pregnant females, the natural route of infection. We show that GBS strain BM110, belonging to the CC17 clonal complex, is more virulent in this vertical transmission model than the isogenic mutant BM110∆cylE, which is deprived of hemolysin/cytolysin. Pups exposed to the more virulent strain exhibit higher mortality rates and lung inflammation than those exposed to the attenuated strain. Moreover, pups that survive to BM110 infection present neurological developmental disability, revealed by impaired learning performance and memory in adulthood. The use of this new mouse model, that reproduces key steps of GBS infection in newborns, will promote a better understanding of the physiopathology of GBS-induced meningitis.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05492-y

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