Leptospira interrogans stably infects zebrafish embryos, altering phagocyte behavior and homing to specific tissues

J Muse Davis; David A Haake; Lalita Ramakrishnan

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000463

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Leptospira interrogans stably infects zebrafish embryos, altering phagocyte behavior and homing to specific tissues

Journal article

Open access

Leptospira interrogans stably infects zebrafish embryos, altering phagocyte behavior and homing to specific tissues

J Muse Davis, David A Haake and Lalita Ramakrishnan

PLoS neglected tropical diseases, Vol.3(6), pp.e463-e463

06/23/2009

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000463

PMCID: PMC2693671

PMID: 19547748

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Abstract

Leptospirosis is an extremely widespread zoonotic infection with outcomes ranging from subclinical infection to fatal Weil's syndrome. Despite the global impact of the disease, key aspects of its pathogenesis remain unclear. To examine in detail the earliest steps in the host response to leptospires, we used fluorescently labelled Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni to infect 30 hour post fertilization zebrafish embryos by either the caudal vein or hindbrain ventricle. These embryos have functional innate immunity but have not yet developed an adaptive immune system. Furthermore, they are optically transparent, allowing direct visualization of host-pathogen interactions from the moment of infection. We observed rapid uptake of leptospires by phagocytes, followed by persistent, intracellular infection over the first 48 hours. Phagocytosis of leptospires occasionally resulted in formation of large cellular vesicles consistent with apoptotic bodies. By 24 hours, clusters of infected phagocytes were accumulating lateral to the dorsal artery, presumably in early hematopoietic tissue. Our observations suggest that phagocytosis may be a key defense mechanism in the early stages of leptospirosis, and that phagocytic cells play roles in immunopathogenesis and likely in the dissemination of leptospires to specific target tissues.

Leptospirosis - veterinary

Animals

Phagocytes - microbiology

Zebrafish - microbiology

Phagocytes - immunology

Leptospirosis - immunology

Leptospira interrogans - immunology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Leptospira interrogans stably infects zebrafish embryos, altering phagocyte behavior and homing to specific tissues
Creators: J Muse Davis - Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
David A Haake
Lalita Ramakrishnan
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: PLoS neglected tropical diseases, Vol.3(6), pp.e463-e463
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000463
PMID: 19547748
PMCID: PMC2693671
NLM abbreviation: PLoS Negl Trop Dis
ISSN: 1935-2735
eISSN: 1935-2735
Grant note: R29 AI034431 / NIAID NIH HHS R21 AI034431 / NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI-54503 / NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI034431 / NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI054503 / NIAID NIH HHS AI-34431 / NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI034431-12 / NIAID NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 06/23/2009
Academic Unit: Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Infectious Disease (Pediatrics)
Record Identifier: 9984093358802771

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