Shigella Serotypes Associated With Carriage in Humans Establish Persistent Infection in Zebrafish

Torraca, Vincenzo, Brokatzky, Dominik, Miles, Sydney L, Chong, Charlotte E ORCID: 0000-0001-8402-3936, De Silva, P Malaka ORCID: 0000-0002-0579-0131, Baker, Stephen, Jenkins, Claire, Holt, Kathryn E, Baker, Kate S ORCID: 0000-0001-5850-1949 and Mostowy, Serge (2023) Shigella Serotypes Associated With Carriage in Humans Establish Persistent Infection in Zebrafish. JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 228 (8). pp. 1108-1118.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiad326

Abstract

Shigella represents a paraphyletic group of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli. More than 40 Shigella serotypes have been reported. However, most cases within the men who have sex with men (MSM) community are attributed to 3 serotypes: Shigella sonnei unique serotype and Shigella flexneri 2a and 3a serotypes. Using the zebrafish model, we demonstrate that Shigella can establish persistent infection in vivo. Bacteria are not cleared by the immune system and become antibiotic tolerant. Establishment of persistent infection depends on the O-antigen, a key constituent of the bacterial surface and a serotype determinant. Representative isolates associated with MSM transmission persist in zebrafish, while representative isolates of a serotype not associated with MSM transmission do not. Isolates of a Shigella serotype establishing persistent infections elicited significantly less macrophage death in vivo than isolates of a serotype unable to persist. We conclude that zebrafish are a valuable platform to illuminate factors underlying establishment of Shigella persistent infection in humans.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	O-antigen, persistent infection, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, zebrafish
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	05 Oct 2023 09:52
Last Modified:	20 Oct 2023 09:24
DOI:	10.1093/infdis/jiad326
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiad326
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3173437