1887

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Volume 58, Issue 6

Effects of altering the germination potential of spores by exogenous means in a mouse model Free

Abstract

Inhalational anthrax is the most severe form of anthrax. It has been shown in small-animal and non-human primate models that relatively large pools of ungerminated spores can remain within the alveolar spaces for days to weeks post-inhalation or until transported to areas more favourable for germination and bacillary outgrowth. In this study, spores of the Ames strain that were exposed to germination-inducing media prior to intranasal delivery were significantly less infectious than spores delivered in either water or germination-inhibitory medium. The effect of manipulating the germination potential of these spores within the lungs of infected mice by exogenous germination-altering media was examined. The data suggested that neither inducing germination nor inhibiting germination of spores within the lungs protected mice from the ensuing infection. Germination-altering strategies could, instead, significantly increase the severity of disease in a mouse model of inhalational anthrax when implemented . It was shown that germination-altering strategies, in this study, were not beneficial to the infected host and are impractical as countermeasures.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): H&E, haematoxylin and eosin
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2009-06-01
2024-04-18
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Effects of altering the germination potential of Bacillus anthracis spores by exogenous means in a mouse model
J. Med. Microbiol. 58, 816 (2009); https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.008656-0
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.008656-0
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.008656-0
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