Shigella Serotypes Associated With Carriage in Humans Establish Persistent Infection in Zebrafish

Overview

Journal J Infect Dis

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2023 Aug 9

PMID 37556724

Authors

Vincenzo Torraca

Dominik Brokatzky

Sydney L Miles

Charlotte E Chong

P Malaka De Silva

Stephen Baker

Claire Jenkins

Kathryn E Holt

Kate S Baker

Serge Mostowy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Shigella represents a paraphyletic group of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli. More than 40 Shigella serotypes have been reported. However, most cases within the men who have sex with men (MSM) community are attributed to 3 serotypes: Shigella sonnei unique serotype and Shigella flexneri 2a and 3a serotypes. Using the zebrafish model, we demonstrate that Shigella can establish persistent infection in vivo. Bacteria are not cleared by the immune system and become antibiotic tolerant. Establishment of persistent infection depends on the O-antigen, a key constituent of the bacterial surface and a serotype determinant. Representative isolates associated with MSM transmission persist in zebrafish, while representative isolates of a serotype not associated with MSM transmission do not. Isolates of a Shigella serotype establishing persistent infections elicited significantly less macrophage death in vivo than isolates of a serotype unable to persist. We conclude that zebrafish are a valuable platform to illuminate factors underlying establishment of Shigella persistent infection in humans.

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