A Novel Mouse Model of Staphylococcus aureus Vascular Graft Infection Noninvasive Imaging of Biofilm Development in Vivo

作者：Van de Vyver Helene; Bovenkamp Philipp R; Hoerr Verena; Schwegmann Katrin; Tuchscherr Lorena; Niemann Silke; Kursawe Laura; Grosse Christina; Moter Annette; Hansen Uwe; Neugebauer Ute; Kuhlmann Michael T; Peters Georg; Hermann Sven; Loeffler Bettina

来源：American Journal Of Pathology, 2017, 187(2): 268-279.

DOI：10.1016/j.ajpath.2016.10.005

Staphylococcus aureus causes very serious infections of vascular grafts. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of this disease is largely lacking because of the absence of representable models. Therefore, the aim of this study was to set up a mouse model of vascular graft infections that closely mimics the human situation. A catheter was inserted into the right carotid artery of mice, which acted as a vascular graft. Mice were infected i.v. using 8 different S. aureus strains, and development of the infection was followed up. Although all strains had varying abilities to form biofilm in vitro and different levels of virulence in mice, they all caused biofilm formation on the grafts. This graft infection was monitored using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and F-18-fluordeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FOG-PET). MRI allowed the quantification of blood flow through the arteries, which was decreased in the catheter after infection. FDG-PET revealed high inflammation levels at the site of the catheter after infection. This model closely resembles the situation in patients, which is characterized by a tight interplay between pathogen and host, and can therefore be used for the testing of novel treatment, diagnosis, and prevention strategies. In addition, combining MRI and PET with microscopic techniques provides an appropriate way to characterize the course of these infections and to precisely analyze biofilm development.

• 出版日期2017-2
• 单位河北医科大学