Open AccessEarly colonization of the rat upper respiratory tract by temperature modulated Bordetella bronchiseptica 1
Author(s) -
Brockmeier Susan L
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1999.tb13572.x
Subject(s) - bordetella bronchiseptica , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , colonization , inoculation , respiratory tract , phase (matter) , biology , chemistry , respiratory system , immunology , anatomy , genetics , organic chemistry
The ability of nonmodulated Bvg + phase cultures, temperature modulated Bvg − phase cultures, and a Bvg − phase‐locked mutant of Bordetella bronchiseptica to colonize the rat upper respiratory tract was investigated. Initially, greater numbers of the temperature modulated Bvg − phase bacteria adhered to the nasal cavity of the rats. The temperature modulated Bvg − phase bacteria appeared to be quickly cleared to levels lower than the Bvg + phase bacteria by 4 h after inoculation and stayed lower until 48 h after inoculation when colonization levels were equal to the Bvg + phase bacteria. The level of colonization with the Bvg − phase‐locked mutant of B . bronchiseptica was lower than both the nonmodulated Bvg + phase and temperature modulated Bvg − phase cultures and declined over time during the experiment. These findings suggest that there may be increased adherence from an environmental phase to ensure bacteria survive initial clearance mechanisms until the switch to the Bvg + phase occurs.