Resistance of Inbred Mice to Salmonella typhimurium

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 126; no. 4; pp. 378 - 386
• Main Authors: Robson, Hugh G., Vas, Stephen I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The University of Chicago Press 01.10.1972; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Animals; Antibody Formation; Bacteria; Blood - microbiology; Dosage; Immunity; Immunity, Cellular; Inbred strains; Inbreeding; Infections; Inoculum; Listeria monocytogenes - immunology; Liver; Liver - microbiology; Macrophages - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains - immunology; Original Articles; Phosphorus Isotopes; Salmonella typhimurium - immunology; Salmonella typhimurium - isolation & purification; Spleen; Spleen - microbiology; Streptococcus pneumoniae - immunology; Toxoplasma - immunology; Typhoid Fever - immunology; Vaccination
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/126.4.378

Inbred mice infected intraperitoneally (ip) with Salmonella typhimurium showed three patterns of survival: susceptible (C57Bl/6J, BALB/cJ, and C3H/HeJ strains), intermediate (DBA/2J strain), and resistant (A/J strain). Vaccination with phenol-killed bacteria, live avirulent S. typhimurium, or ribosomal vaccine protected strain A/J but not other strains against ip infection. Normal F1 hybrid mice were not more resistant to ip infection than either parent, but vaccination of hybrids with phenol-killed bacteria elicited equal or greater resistance than that of either vaccinated parent. Strain A/J infected by the intragastric or intravenous route was also more resistant than strain C57Bl/6J. Live avirulent S. yphimurium protected A/J but not C57Bl/6J mice against iv infection with the virulent strain. A/J mice were susceptible to Listeria monocytogenes and Cryptococcus neoformans; C57Bl/ 6J mice were resistant. C57Bl/ 6J mice may be unable to activate tissue macrophages in S. typhimurium infection, while vaccination prolongs survival of A/J mice until cellular immune mechanisms can mount an effective defense.