Open AccessReduction of Astrogliosis by Early Treatment of Pneumococcal Meningitis Measured by Simultaneous Imaging, In Vivo, of the Pathogen and Host Response
Author(s) -
Jagath L. Kadurugamuwa,
Kshitij Modi,
Olivier Coquoz,
Brad Rice,
Steven P. Smith,
Pamela R. Contag,
Tony Purchio
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.73.12.7836-7843.2005
Subject(s) - astrogliosis , bioluminescence imaging , in vivo , biology , luciferase , streptococcus pneumoniae , bioluminescence , microbiology and biotechnology , transgene , meningitis , pathogen , genetically modified mouse , antibiotics , gene , biochemistry , medicine , transfection , neuroscience , central nervous system , psychiatry
We developed a method for simultaneous in vivo biophotonic monitoring of pneumococcal meningitis and the accompanying neuronal injury in live transgenic mice.Streptococcus pneumoniae engineered for bioluminescence (lux ) was used for direct visualization of disease progression and antibiotic treatment in a mouse model of meningitis. The host response was monitored in transgenic mice containing an inducible firefly luciferase (luc ) reporter gene under transcriptional control of the mouse glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. Based on the different spectra of light emission and substrate requirements forlux andluc , we were able to separately monitor the two reporters using a highly sensitive in vivo imaging system. The level of neuronal damage and recovery following antibiotic treatment was dependent on the time of treatment. This model has potential for simultaneous multiparameter monitoring and testing of therapies that target the pathogen or host response to prevent neuronal injury and recovery.