Abstract
Lyme disease and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) are tick-borne illnesses caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and the agent of HGE, respectively. We investigated the influence of dual infection with B. burgdorferi and the HGE agent on the course of murine Lyme arthritis and granulocytic ehrlichiosis. Coinfection resulted in increased levels of both pathogens and more severe Lyme arthritis compared with those in mice infected with B. burgdorferi alone. The increase in bacterial burden during dual infection was associated with enhanced acquisition of both organisms by larval ticks that were allowed to engorge upon infected mice. Coinfection also resulted in diminished interleukin-12 (IL-12), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels and elevated IL-6 levels in murine sera. During dual infection, IFN-γ receptor expression on macrophages was also reduced, implying a decrease in phagocyte activation. These results suggest that coinfection of mice with B. burgdorferi and the HGE agent modulates host immune responses, resulting in increased bacterial burden, Lyme arthritis, and pathogen transmission to the vector.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3359-3371 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Infection and Immunity |
| Volume | 69 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2001 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
Cite this
Coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi and the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis alters murine immune responses, pathogen burden, and severity of lyme arthritis. / Thomas, V.; Anguita, J.; Barthold, Stephen W; Fikrig, E.
In: Infection and Immunity, Vol. 69, No. 5, 2001, p. 3359-3371.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi and the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis alters murine immune responses, pathogen burden, and severity of lyme arthritis
AU - Thomas, V.
AU - Anguita, J.
AU - Barthold, Stephen W
AU - Fikrig, E.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Lyme disease and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) are tick-borne illnesses caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and the agent of HGE, respectively. We investigated the influence of dual infection with B. burgdorferi and the HGE agent on the course of murine Lyme arthritis and granulocytic ehrlichiosis. Coinfection resulted in increased levels of both pathogens and more severe Lyme arthritis compared with those in mice infected with B. burgdorferi alone. The increase in bacterial burden during dual infection was associated with enhanced acquisition of both organisms by larval ticks that were allowed to engorge upon infected mice. Coinfection also resulted in diminished interleukin-12 (IL-12), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels and elevated IL-6 levels in murine sera. During dual infection, IFN-γ receptor expression on macrophages was also reduced, implying a decrease in phagocyte activation. These results suggest that coinfection of mice with B. burgdorferi and the HGE agent modulates host immune responses, resulting in increased bacterial burden, Lyme arthritis, and pathogen transmission to the vector.
AB - Lyme disease and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) are tick-borne illnesses caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and the agent of HGE, respectively. We investigated the influence of dual infection with B. burgdorferi and the HGE agent on the course of murine Lyme arthritis and granulocytic ehrlichiosis. Coinfection resulted in increased levels of both pathogens and more severe Lyme arthritis compared with those in mice infected with B. burgdorferi alone. The increase in bacterial burden during dual infection was associated with enhanced acquisition of both organisms by larval ticks that were allowed to engorge upon infected mice. Coinfection also resulted in diminished interleukin-12 (IL-12), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels and elevated IL-6 levels in murine sera. During dual infection, IFN-γ receptor expression on macrophages was also reduced, implying a decrease in phagocyte activation. These results suggest that coinfection of mice with B. burgdorferi and the HGE agent modulates host immune responses, resulting in increased bacterial burden, Lyme arthritis, and pathogen transmission to the vector.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035055362&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035055362&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1128/IAI.69.5.3359-3371.2001
DO - 10.1128/IAI.69.5.3359-3371.2001
M3 - Article
C2 - 11292759
AN - SCOPUS:0035055362
VL - 69
SP - 3359
EP - 3371
JO - Infection and Immunity
JF - Infection and Immunity
SN - 0019-9567
IS - 5
ER -