Adaptive immune defense prevents Bartonella persistence upon trans-placental transmission.
Vertical transmission of Bartonella infection has been reported for several mammalian species including mice and humans. Accordingly, it is commonly held that acquired immunological tolerance contributes critically to the high prevalence of Bartonellae in wild-ranging rodent populations. Here we stu...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-05-01
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| Series: | PLoS Pathogens |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010489 |
| _version_ | 1818471049933619200 |
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| author | Lena K Siewert Christoph Dehio Daniel D Pinschewer |
| author_facet | Lena K Siewert Christoph Dehio Daniel D Pinschewer |
| author_sort | Lena K Siewert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vertical transmission of Bartonella infection has been reported for several mammalian species including mice and humans. Accordingly, it is commonly held that acquired immunological tolerance contributes critically to the high prevalence of Bartonellae in wild-ranging rodent populations. Here we studied an experimental model of Bartonella infection in mice to assess the impact of maternal and newborn immune defense on vertical transmission and bacterial persistence in the offspring, respectively. Congenital infection was frequently observed in B cell-deficient mothers but not in immunocompetent dams, which correlated with a rapid onset of an antibacterial antibody response in infected WT animals. Intriguingly, B cell-deficient offspring with congenital infection exhibited long-term bacteremia whereas B cell-sufficient offspring cleared bacteremia within a few weeks after birth. Clearance of congenital Bartonella infection resulted in immunity against bacterial rechallenge, with the animals mounting Bartonella-neutralizing antibody responses of normal magnitude. These observations reveal a key role for humoral immune defense by the mother and offspring in preventing and eliminating vertical transmission. Moreover, congenital Bartonella infection does not induce humoral immune tolerance but results in anti-bacterial immunity, questioning the contribution of neonatal tolerance to Bartonella prevalence in wild-ranging rodents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:46:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f145a067a18d4b3789787e585b3a94cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1553-7366 1553-7374 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:46:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-f145a067a18d4b3789787e585b3a94cc2022-12-22T02:28:34ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742022-05-01185e101048910.1371/journal.ppat.1010489Adaptive immune defense prevents Bartonella persistence upon trans-placental transmission.Lena K SiewertChristoph DehioDaniel D PinschewerVertical transmission of Bartonella infection has been reported for several mammalian species including mice and humans. Accordingly, it is commonly held that acquired immunological tolerance contributes critically to the high prevalence of Bartonellae in wild-ranging rodent populations. Here we studied an experimental model of Bartonella infection in mice to assess the impact of maternal and newborn immune defense on vertical transmission and bacterial persistence in the offspring, respectively. Congenital infection was frequently observed in B cell-deficient mothers but not in immunocompetent dams, which correlated with a rapid onset of an antibacterial antibody response in infected WT animals. Intriguingly, B cell-deficient offspring with congenital infection exhibited long-term bacteremia whereas B cell-sufficient offspring cleared bacteremia within a few weeks after birth. Clearance of congenital Bartonella infection resulted in immunity against bacterial rechallenge, with the animals mounting Bartonella-neutralizing antibody responses of normal magnitude. These observations reveal a key role for humoral immune defense by the mother and offspring in preventing and eliminating vertical transmission. Moreover, congenital Bartonella infection does not induce humoral immune tolerance but results in anti-bacterial immunity, questioning the contribution of neonatal tolerance to Bartonella prevalence in wild-ranging rodents.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010489 |
| spellingShingle | Lena K Siewert Christoph Dehio Daniel D Pinschewer Adaptive immune defense prevents Bartonella persistence upon trans-placental transmission. PLoS Pathogens |
| title | Adaptive immune defense prevents Bartonella persistence upon trans-placental transmission. |
| title_full | Adaptive immune defense prevents Bartonella persistence upon trans-placental transmission. |
| title_fullStr | Adaptive immune defense prevents Bartonella persistence upon trans-placental transmission. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adaptive immune defense prevents Bartonella persistence upon trans-placental transmission. |
| title_short | Adaptive immune defense prevents Bartonella persistence upon trans-placental transmission. |
| title_sort | adaptive immune defense prevents bartonella persistence upon trans placental transmission |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010489 |
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