Frontline: Control of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an obligate intracellular pathogen, in the absence of inducible nitric oxide synthase, phagocyte NADPH oxidase, tumor necrosis factor, Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4, or the TLR adaptor molecule MyD88

Friederike D. von Loewenich, Diana G. Scorpio, Udo Reischl, J. Stephen Dumler, Christian Bogdan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that is related to rickettsial organisms and replicates in the hostile environment of neutrophils. Previous studies with SCID mice suggested that T and/or B cells are required for its control in vivo. Here, we used mice deficient for Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4, MyD88, tumor necrosis factor, inducible nitric oxide synthase, or phagocyte NADPH oxidase (gp91phox-/-) to define the pathways that are critical for the recognition and the killing of this pathogen. Whereas SCID mice developed a 60-fold higher bacterial load in the blood compared to wild-type mice and succumbed to infection, all other gene-deficient mouse strains were fully capable in overcoming a systemic infection with A. phagocytophilum. From these data we conclude that effector mechanisms that are crucial to the defense against numerous other intracellular pathogens are dispensable for the control of A. phagocytophilum.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1789-1797
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Journal of Immunology
Volume34
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anaplasma phagocytophilum
  • Inducible nitric oxide synthase
  • MyD88
  • Phagocyte NADPH oxidase
  • Tumor necrosis factor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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