Search

Owing to its ability to form biofilms, Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for an increasing number of infections on implantable medical devices. The aim of this study was to develop a mouse model using microbeads coated with S. aureus biofilm to simulate such infections and to analyse the dynamics of anti-biofilm inflammatory responses by intravital imaging. Scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry were used in vitro to study the ability of an mCherry fluorescent strain of S. aureus to coat silica microbeads. Biofilm-coated microbeads were then inoculated intradermally into the ear tissue of LysM-EGFP transgenic mice (EGFP fluorescent immune cells). General and specific real-time inflammatory responses were studied in ear tissue by confocal microscopy at early (4-6h) and late time points (after 24h) after injection. The displacement properties of immune cells were analysed. The responses were compared with those obtained in control mice injected with only microbeads. In vitro, our protocol was capable of generating reproducible inocula of biofilm-coated microbeads verified by labelling matrix components, observing biofilm ultrastructure and confirmed in vivo and in situ with a matrix specific fluorescent probe. In vivo, a major inflammatory response was observed in the mouse ear pinna at both time points. Real-time observations of cell recruitment at injection sites showed that immune cells had difficulty in accessing biofilm bacteria and highlighted areas of direct interaction. The average speed of cells was lower in infected mice compared to control mice and in tissue areas where direct contact between immune cells and bacteria was observed, the average cell velocity and linearity were decreased in comparison to cells in areas where no bacteria were visible. This model provides an innovative way to analyse specific immune responses against biofilm infections on medical devices. It paves the way for live evaluation of the effectiveness of immunomodulatory therapies combined with antibiotics.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal atresia is a rare congenital disorder with an incidence of 3/10,000 birth. About one-third of patients have severe intestinal dysfunction after surgical repair. We examined whether prenatal gastrointestinal obstruction might effect on the myenteric plexus and account for subsequent functional disorders. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We studied a rat model of surgically induced antenatal atresia, comparing intestinal samples from both sides of the obstruction and with healthy rat pups controls. Whole-mount preparations of the myenteric plexus were stained for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was used to analyze mRNAs for inflammatory markers. Functional motility and permeability analyses were performed in vitro. Phenotypic studies were also performed in 8 newborns with intestinal atresia. In the experimental model, the proportion of nNOS-immunoreactive neurons was similar in proximal and distal segments (6.7±4.6% vs 5.6±4.2%, p = 0.25), but proximal segments contained a higher proportion of ChAT-immunoreactive neurons (13.2±6.2% vs 7.5±4.3%, p = 0.005). Phenotypic changes were associated with a 100-fold lower concentration-dependent contractile response to carbachol and a 1.6-fold higher EFS-induced contractile response in proximal compared to distal segments. Transcellular (p = 0.002) but not paracellular permeability was increased. Comparison with controls showed that modifications involved not only proximal but also distal segments. Phenotypic studies in human atresia confirmed the changes in ChAT expression. CONCLUSION: Experimental atresia in fetal rat induces differential myenteric plexus phenotypical as well as functional changes (motility and permeability) between the two sides of the obstruction. Delineating these changes might help to identify markers predictive of motility dysfunction and to define guidelines for post-surgical care.

BACKGROUND: Progress in oncology could improve survival rate in children, but would probably lead to impaired fertility and puberty. In pre-pubertal girls, the only therapeutic option is the cryopreservation of one ovary. Three births have been reported after reimplantation of cryopreserved mature ovary. Conversely, reimplantation of ovary preserved before puberty (defined as immature ovary) has never been performed in humans. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In order to analyze ovarian function, we performed transplantation using fresh or cryopreserved immature grafts in pre-pubertal or adult mice. Puberty as well as cyclic hormonal activity was restored. All follicle populations were present although a significant reduction in follicle density was observed with or without cryopreservation. Although fertility was restored, the graft is of limited life span. Because ex vivo ovary manipulation and cryopreservation procedure, the status of genomic imprinting was investigated. Methylation status of the H19 and Lit1 Imprinting Control Regions in kidney, muscle and tongue of offsprings from grafted mice does not show significant alteration when compared to those of unoperated mice. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results demonstrate that immature ovarian grafting can restore spontaneous puberty and fertility. However, these data suggest that follicle depletion leads to premature ovarian failure. This study addresses the very important epigenetics issue, and provides valuable information to the study of ovarian transplantation suggesting that these procedures do not perturb normal epigenetics marks. These results are highly relevant to the reimplantation question of immature cortex in women.