Evaluation of the VIDAS Staph Enterotoxin II (SET 2) Immunoassay Method for the Detection of Staphylococcal Enterotoxins in Selected Foods: Collaborative Study

A multilaboratory study was conducted to determine the limit of detection (LOD) of Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SET) in 5 foods. Cooked chicken, ham, potato salad, pasteurized liquid whole milk, and canned mushrooms were each spiked with a different enterotoxin (A, B, C1, D, or E), and tested at 0.25 and 0.5 ng/g SET levels to determine the LOD of the assay for those foods in a collaborative study. Unspiked controls were also included. A total of 19 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study, 1674 test portions were analyzed, of which 1638 were used in the statistical analysis. Of the 1638 test portions used in the statistical analysis, 1104 were spiked test portions, of which 1073 were positive by the VIDAS Staph enterotoxin II (SET 2) method. The detection rates at the 0.25 ng/mL level were cooked chicken, 98.2; ham, 99.0; potato salad, 99.1; liquid whole milk, 85.2; and canned mushrooms, 100. The detection rates at the 0.5 ng/mL level were cooked chicken, 97.4; ham, 98.1; potato salad, 100; liquid whole milk, 99.0; and canned mushrooms, 100. The data indicate that the SET 2 method is capable of detecting SET at 0.25 ng/g in cooked chicken, ham, potato salad, and canned mushrooms and at 0.5 ng/g in pasteurized liquid whole milk.

Evaluation of VIDAS® Listeria species Xpress (LSX) Immunoassay Method for the Detection of Listeria species in Foods: Collaborative Study

In a multilaboratory study, the effectiveness of an alternative method for rapid screening of Listeria species compared to traditional reference methods was demonstrated in a variety of food products. A collaborative study was conducted to compare the VIDAS® Listeria species Xpress (LSX) method and the standard cultural methods for the detection of Listeria species in foods. Six food types were tested: vanilla ice cream, cheddar cheese, raw ground beef, frozen green beans, deli turkey, and cooked shrimp. Each food, inoculated with a different Listeria strain at two levels and uninoculated test portions, was analyzed by each method. A total of 15 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study 1134 tests were analyzed in the statistical analysis. There were 490 positives by the VIDAS LSX method using the sample boiling step, 483 positives by the VIDAS LSX method using the Heat and Go system, and 439 positives by the standard culture methods. Overall, the Chi-square result for the VIDAS LSX method with boiling for all foods was 7.25, indicating a significant statistical difference between the VIDAS method and the standard methods at the 5% confidence. For the VIDAS LSX method with the Heat and Go system, the Chi-square result for all foods was 5.37, indicating a significant statistical difference between the VIDAS LSX assay with the Heat and Go system and the standard methods at the 5% level of significance. In both cases, the VIDAS method was more sensitive than the standard methods. The LSX method detects Listeria species in foods with negative or presumptive positive results in a minimum of 30 h compared to at least 5 days for the cultural methods. Based on the results of this collaborative study, it is recommended that the VIDAS LSX method be adopted as an AOAC Official MethodSM for the detection of Listeria species in dairy products, vegetables, seafood, raw meats and poultry, and processed meats and poultry.

Evaluation of VIDAS Listeria monocytogenes II (LMO2) Immunoassay Method for the Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in Foods: Collaborative Study

A multilaboratory study was conducted to compare the VIDAS®Listeria monocytogenes II (LMO2) immunoassay and the standard cultural methods for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in foods. Five food types—vanilla ice cream, brie cheese, cooked roast beef, frozen green beans, and frozen tilapia fish—at 3 levels were analyzed by each method. A total of 26 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study, 1404 test portions were analyzed of which 1152 were used in the statistical analysis. There were 448 positive by the VIDAS LMO2 assay and 457 positive by the standard culture methods. A χ2 analysis of each of the 5 food types, at the 3 inoculation levels tested, was performed. The resulting χ2 value, 0.36, indicates that overall, there are no statistical differences between the VIDAS LMO2 assay and the standard methods at the 5% level of significance.

Evaluation of the VIDAS® Listeria (LIS) Immunoassay for the Detection of Listeria in Foods Using Demi-Fraser and Fraser Enrichment Broths, as Modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06 (AOAC Official Method 2004.06)

A multilaboratory study was conducted to compare the VIDAS® LIS immunoassay with the standard cultural methods for the detection of Listeria in foods using an enrichment modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06. The modified enrichment protocol was implemented to harmonize the VIDAS LIS assay with the VIDAS LMO2 assay. Five food types—brie cheese, vanilla ice cream, frozen green beans, frozen raw tilapia fish, and cooked roast beef—at 3 inoculation levels, were analyzed by each method. A total of 15 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study, 1206 test portions were tested, of which 1170 were used in the statistical analysis. There were 433 positive by the VIDAS LIS assay and 396 positive by the standard culture methods. A Chi-square analysis of each of the 5 food types, at the 3 inoculation levels tested, was performed. The resulting average Chi square analysis, 0.42, indicated that, overall, there are no statistical differences between the VIDAS LIS assay and the standard methods at the 5% level of significance.

3M™ Petrifilm™ Staph Express Count Plate Method for the Enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in Selected Dairy Foods: Collaborative Study

The 3M™ Petrifilm™ Staph Express Count plate method was compared with AOAC Official Method 975.55 for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in selected foods. Five foods—ice cream, raw milk, yogurt, whey powder, and cheese—were analyzed for S. aureus by 12 collaborating laboratories. For each food tested, the collaborators received 8 blind test samples consisting of a control sample, a low inoculation level, a medium inoculation level, and a medium inoculation level with background flora, each in duplicate. The mean log10 counts for the methods were comparable for all 5 foods. The repeatability and reproducibility variances of the 24 h Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method were similar to those of the 72 h standard method.

Evaluation of VIDAS Listeria species Xpress (LSX) immunoassay method for the detection of Listeria species in foods: collaborative study

In a multilaboratory study, the effectiveness of an alternative method for rapid screening of Listeria species compared to traditional reference methods was demonstrated in a variety of food products. A collaborative study was conducted to compare the VIDAS Listeria species Xpress (LSX) method and the standard cultural methods for the detection of Listeria species in foods. Six food types were tested: vanilla ice cream, cheddar cheese, raw ground beef, frozen green beans, deli turkey, and cooked shrimp. Each food, inoculated with a different Listeria strain at two levels and uninoculated test portions, was analyzed by each method. A total of 15 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study 1134 tests were analyzed in the statistical analysis. There were 490 positives by the VIDAS LSX method using the sample boiling step, 483 positives by the VIDAS LSX method using the Heat and Go system, and 439 positives by the standard culture methods. Overall, the Chi-square result for the VIDAS LSX method with boiling for all foods was 7.25, indicating a significant statistical difference between the VIDAS method and the standard methods at the 5% confidence. For the VIDAS LSX method with the Heat and Go system, the Chi-square result for all foods was 5.37, indicating a significant statistical difference between the VIDAS LSX assay with the Heat and Go system and the standard methods at the 5% level of significance. In both cases, the VIDAS method was more sensitive than the standard methods. The LSX method detects Listeria species in foods with negative or presumptive positive results in a minimum of 30 h compared to at least 5 days for the cultural methods. Based on the results of this collaborative study, it is recommended that the VIDAS LSX method be adopted as an AOAC Official Method for the detection of Listeria species in dairy products, vegetables, seafood, raw meats and poultry, and processed meats and poultry.

Evaluation of the VIDAS staph enterotoxin II (SET 2) immunoassay method for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in selected foods: collaborative study

A multilaboratory study was conducted to determine the limit of detection (LOD) of Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SET) in 5 foods. Cooked chicken, ham, potato salad, pasteurized liquid whole milk, and canned mushrooms were each spiked with a different enterotoxin (A, B, C1, D, or E), and tested at 0.25 and 0.5 ng/g SET levels to determine the LOD of the assay for those foods in a collaborative study. Unspiked controls were also included. A total of 19 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study, 1674 test portions were analyzed, of which 1638 were used in the statistical analysis. Of the 1638 test portions used in the statistical analysis, 1104 were spiked test portions, of which 1073 were positive by the VIDAS Staph enterotoxin II (SET 2) method. The detection rates at the 0.25 ng/mL level were cooked chicken, 98.2%; ham, 99.0%; potato salad, 99.1%; liquid whole milk, 85.2%; and canned mushrooms, 100%. The detection rates at the 0.5 ng/mL level were cooked chicken, 97.4%; ham, 98.1%; potato salad, 100%; liquid whole milk, 99.0%; and canned mushrooms, 100%. The data indicate that the SET 2 method is capable of detecting SET at 0.25 ng/g in cooked chicken, ham, potato salad, and canned mushrooms and at 0.5 ng/g in pasteurized liquid whole milk.

Evaluation of the VIDAS Listeria (LIS) immunoassay for the detection of Listeria in foods using demi-Fraser and Fraser enrichment broths, as modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06 (AOAC Official Method 2004.06)

A multilaboratory study was conducted to compare the VIDAS LIS immunoassay with the standard cultural methods for the detection of Listeria in foods using an enrichment modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06. The modified enrichment protocol was implemented to harmonize the VIDAS LIS assay with the VIDAS LMO2 assay. Five food types--brie cheese, vanilla ice cream, frozen green beans, frozen raw tilapia fish, and cooked roast beef--at 3 inoculation levels, were analyzed by each method. A total of 15 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study, 1206 test portions were tested, of which 1170 were used in the statistical analysis. There were 433 positive by the VIDAS LIS assay and 396 positive by the standard culture methods. A Chi-square analysis of each of the 5 food types, at the 3 inoculation levels tested, was performed. The resulting average Chi square analysis, 0.42, indicated that, overall, there are no statistical differences between the VIDAS LIS assay and the standard methods at the 5% level of significance.

Evaluation of VIDAS listeria monocytogenes II (LMO2) immunoassay method for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in foods: collaborative study

A multilaboratory study was conducted to compare the VIDAS Listeria monocytogenes II (LMO2) immunoassay and the standard cultural methods for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in foods. Five food types-vanilla ice cream, brie cheese, cooked roast beef, frozen green beans, and frozen tilapia fish-at 3 levels were analyzed by each method. A total of 26 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study, 1404 test portions were analyzed of which 1152 were used in the statistical analysis. There were 448 positive by the VIDAS LMO2 assay and 457 positive by the standard culture methods. A chi2 analysis of each of the 5 food types, at the 3 inoculation levels tested, was performed. The resulting chi2 value, 0.36, indicates that overall, there are no statistical differences between the VIDAS LMO2 assay and the standard methods at the 5% level of significance.

3M Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in selected dairy foods: collaborative study

The 3M Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method was compared with AOAC Official Method 975.55 for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in selected foods. Five foods--ice cream, raw milk, yogurt, whey powder, and cheese--were analyzed for S. aureus by 12 collaborating laboratories. For each food tested, the collaborators received 8 blind test samples consisting of a control sample, a low inoculation level, a medium inoculation level, and a medium inoculation level with background flora, each in duplicate. The mean log10 counts for the methods were comparable for all 5 foods. The repeatability and reproducibility variances of the 24 h Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method were similar to those of the 72 h standard method.

3M Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in selected types of processed and prepared foods: collaborative study

The 3M Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method was compared with AOAC Official Method 975.55 for the enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in selected foods. Five foods--frozen lasagna, custard, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen hashbrowns, and frozen batter-coated mushrooms--were analyzed for S. aureus by 13 collaborating laboratories. For each food tested, the collaborators received 8 blind test samples consisting of a control sample, a low inoculation level, a medium inoculation level, and a medium inoculation level with background flora, each in duplicate. The mean log10 counts for the methods were comparable for all 5 foods. The repeatability and reproducibility variances of the 24 h Petrifilm Staph Express Count plate method were similar to those of the 72 h standard method.

Gastrointestinal colonization by Candida albicans mutant strains in antibiotic-treated mice

Antibiotic-treated mice orally inoculated with one of three Candida albicans strains (including two mutant strains) or indigenous Candida pelliculosa showed levels of candidal gastrointestinal colonization that were strain specific. However, regardless of strain, the numbers of viable candida were intermediate to high in the stomach, were consistently lowest in the upper small intestine, and increased progressively down the intestinal tract.

The Candida albicans INT1 gene facilitates cecal colonization in endotoxin-treated mice

Increased intestinal colonization with Candida albicans is believed to be a major predisposing factor to systemic candidiasis. Previous evidence has implicated the C. albicans INT1 gene in hyphal development, epithelial adherence, and mouse virulence. The effect of INT1 on mouse cecal colonization was measured using a parent strain (CAF2, INT1/INT1), an int1 deletion homozygote (CAG3, int1/int1), and a heterozygous reintegrant (CAG5, int1/int1 + INT1). Forty-eight hours after oral inoculation of 10(7) C. albicans into normal mice, only low numbers of each strain were recovered from the cecal flora. In mice pretreated with oral bacitracin/streptomycin, cecal colonization of each C. albicans strain was increased compared to the corresponding strain inoculated into untreated mice, with the CAF2 parent strain greater (P < 0.01) than the two mutant strains, and with the heterozygous and homozygous mutants not different from each other. In mice pretreated with parenteral lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in addition to oral antibiotics, numbers of cecal CAF2, CAG5, and CAG3 were increased (P < 0.01) compared to the corresponding strain inoculated into mice treated with antibiotics alone. In LPS-treated mice, numbers of cecal C. albicans CAF2 (INT1/INT1) were greater (P < 0.05) than C. albicans CAG3 (int1/int1). Thus, parenteral LPS had an additive effect on C. albicans cecal colonization in antibiotic-treated mice, and the presence of two functional copies of the INT1 gene appeared to facilitate colonization in both antibiotic-treated mice and in mice treated with antibiotics plus parenteral endotoxin.

Effect of oral genistein and isoflavone-free diet on cecal flora and bacterial translocation in antibiotic-treated mice

BACKGROUND

There are several reports indicating that the isoflavone genistein may augment the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier as well inhibit bacterial internalization by cultured enterocytes. We speculated that oral genistein might enhance the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier as monitored by the extraintestinal dissemination of intestinal bacteria.

METHODS

Mice were treated with oral antibiotics to induce cecal bacterial overgrowth accompanied by bacterial translocation of antibiotic-resistant enterobacteria, especially Escherichia coli. These mice were divided into separate groups that included chow-fed mice orally inoculated either with saline, vehicle, or genistein, and mice fed isoflavone-free diet and orally inoculated with either saline, vehicle, or genistein. Intestinal bacterial overgrowth was monitored by quantitative culture of excised ceca and bacterial translocation was monitored by quantitative culture of draining mesenteric lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Mice fed the isoflavone-free diet had decreased populations of cecal bacteria compared with chow-fed mice, and bacterial translocation was reduced in chow-fed mice compared with mice fed isoflavone-free diet. However, bacterial translocation was similar in mice given oral genistein compared with appropriate control mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral genistein had no noticeable effect on bacterial translocation in this model. However, the isoflavone-free diet had an antibacterial effect on cecal flora, and the isoflavone-free diet was associated with decreased numbers of cecal bacteria and decreased incidence of bacterial translocation.

Effect of INT1 gene on Candida albicans murine intestinal colonization

BACKGROUND

Increased intestinal colonization with Candida albicans is believed to be a major factor predisposing immunocompromised and postsurgical patients to systemic candidiasis, although the mechanisms facilitating C. albicans colonization remain unclear. Because previous studies have linked the C. albicans INT1 gene to filament formation, epithelial adherence, and mouse virulence, experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of INT1 on intestinal colonization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were orally inoculated with either the parent strain (CAF2, INT/INT1), an int1 heterozygote (CAG1, INT1/int1), an int1 homozygote (CAG3, int1/int1), or a reintegrant (CAG5, int1/int1 + INT1), and sacrificed 3 and 7 days later for quantitative analysis of cecal C. albicans.

RESULTS

Following oral inoculation with 10(3) C. albicans, only small numbers of each strain were recovered from the cecal flora of normal mice. However, in mice pretreated with oral antibiotics, cecal colonization of each strain was increased (P < 0.01). In addition, cecal colonization was reduced for all int1 mutant strains compared with the parent strain (P < 0.05). By light microscopy, all four C. albicans strains were easily observed in the ileal lumen as both budding yeast and filamentous forms, although only occasional yeast forms appeared adherent to the intestinal epithelium.

CONCLUSIONS

C. albicans readily colonized and replicated in the ceca of antibiotic-treated mice. The presence of two functional copies of INT1 appeared to facilitate C. albicans cecal colonization, suggesting that intestinal colonization may be another virulence factor associated with INT1 and that the gene product may be an attractive target to control C. albicans intestinal colonization.

Systemic infection following intravenous inoculation of mice with Candida albicans int1 mutant strains

The Candida albicans gene INT1 is associated with epithelial adhesion, hyphal formation, and virulence. C. albicans strains carrying two, one, or no functional INT1 alleles were used to assess the association between mortality and C. albicans persistence in the liver and kidney of intravenously inoculated mice. Mice were injected with 10(5) C. albicans CAF2 (parent strain, INT1/INT1), C. albicans CAG3 (homozygous disruptant, Int1/int1), or C. albicans CAG5 (heterozygous reintegrant, int1/int1 + INT1). Mortality was monitored and mice were sacrificed on Days 1, 7, 14, and 21 for quantitative analysis of kidney and liver microbes, with histologic analysis of these tissues as well. Mortality was highest for mice injected with the wild-type strain CAF2 (INT1/INT1) and lowest for mice injected with the homozygous disruptant CAG3 (int/int1). Yeast were readily cleared from the liver of all mice injected with any of the three C. albicans strains. Although the mutant strains CAG3 and CAG5 are defective for hyphal formation in vitro, there was histological evidence of abundant hyphal formation in the renal pelvis of mice injected with these strains. Compared to the wild-type strain, mutant strains were associated with reduced mortality but increased C. albicans persistence in the kidney. Thus, the absolute ability to form hyphae in the kidney did not appear to modulate either C. albicans-induced mortality or the course of progressive infection in the kidney. In addition, reduced virulence was paradoxically associated with increased, not decreased, persistence of C. albicans in the kidney.

The isoflavone genistein inhibits internalization of enteric bacteria by cultured Caco-2 and HT-29 enterocytes

The dietary isoflavone genistein is the focus of much research involving its role as a potential therapeutic agent in a variety of diseases, including cancer and heart disease. However, there is recent evidence that dietary genistein may also have an inhibitory effect on extraintestinal invasion of enteric bacteria. To study the effects of genistein on bacterial adherence and internalization by confluent enterocytes, Caco-2 and HT-29 enterocytes (cultivated for 15-18 d and 21-24 d, respectively) were pretreated for 1 h with 0, 30, 100, or 300 micromol/L genistein, followed by 1-h incubation with pure cultures of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, or Escherichia coli. Pretreatment of Caco-2 and HT-29 enterocytes with genistein inhibited bacterial internalization in a dose-dependent manner (r = 0.60-0.79). Compared to untreated enterocytes, 1-h pretreatment with 300 micromol/L genistein was generally associated with decreased bacterial internalization (P < 0. 05) without a corresponding decrease in bacterial adherence. Using Caco-2 cell cultures, decreased bacterial internalization was associated with increased integrity of enterocyte tight junctions [measured by increased transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER)], with alterations in the distribution of enterocyte perijunctional actin filaments (visualized by fluorescein-labeled phalloidin), and with abrogation of the decreased TEER associated with S. typhimurium and E. coli incubation with the enterocytes (P < 0.01). Thus, genistein was associated with inhibition of enterocyte internalization of enteric bacteria by a mechanism that might be related to the integrity of the enterocyte tight junctions, suggesting that genistein might function as a barrier-sustaining agent, inhibiting extraintestinal invasion of enteric bacteria.

Cytochalasin-induced actin disruption of polarized enterocytes can augment internalization of bacteria

Cytochalasin-induced actin disruption has often been associated with decreased bacterial internalization by cultured epithelial cells, although polarized enterocytes have not been systematically studied. In assays using confluent polarized HT-29 enterocytes, cytochalasin D appeared to increase internalization of wild-type Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, and Escherichia coli. HeLa and HEp-2 epithelial cells, as well as HT-29 and Caco-2 enterocytes, were used to clarify this unexpected observation. Resulting data showed that cytochalasin D was associated with increased internalization of S. typhimurium and P. mirabilis by both HT-29 and Caco-2 enterocytes and with increased internalization of E. coli by HT-29 enterocytes; with either HeLa or HEp-2 cells, cytochalasin was associated with no change or a decrease in internalization of these same bacterial strains. Cytochalasin caused decreased internalization of Listeria monocytogenes by HT-29, Caco-2, HeLa, and HEp-2 cells, indicating that cytochalasin did not consistently augment bacterial internalization by polarized enterocytes. Fluorescein-labeled phalloidin confirmed marked disruption of filamentous actin in cytochalasin-treated HT-29, Caco-2, HeLa, and HEp-2 cells. Cytochalasin had no noticeable effect on epithelial viability but caused distorted apical microvilli, cell rounding, and separation of adjacent enterocytes in confluent cultures (with a corresponding decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance). Scanning electron microscopy showed that cytochalasin-induced enhanced bacterial internalization was associated with preferential bacterial adherence on the exposed enterocyte lateral surface. Colchicine, used to disrupt microtubules, had no noticeable effect on bacterial internalization by HT-29 or Caco-2 enterocytes. These data indicated that for HT-29 and Caco-2 enterocytes, cytochalasin-induced disruption of filamentous actin might augment internalization of some bacterial species by a mechanism that appeared to involve exposure of the enterocyte lateral surface.

Intracellular survival of enteric bacteria in cultured human enterocytes

Translocating enteric bacteria have been visualized within intact intestinal epithelial cells in animal models of bacterial translocation. Although the ability of the enterocyte to engulf bacteria has been well documented in both in vivo and in vitro experimental models, relatively little is known about the enterocyte's ability to degrade internalized bacteria. Intracellular survival of eight strains of enteric bacteria (two strains of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, two strains of Escherichia coli, and two strains of Enterococcus faecalis) was quantified over a 20 h period using two different types of terminally differentiated polarized enterocytes considered relevant in vitro models of human small intestinal epithelium, namely Caco-2 and HT-29 cells. Caco-2 enterocytes were generally more permissive for bacterial uptake when compared with HT-29 enterocytes. However, bacterial survival was similar within each type of enterocyte, and most strains of enteric bacteria remained viable within enterocytes for the 20 h duration of the assay. In addition, with the exception of one strain of L. monocytogenes in Caco-2 cells, intracellular enteric bacteria had no noticeable effect on host enterocyte viability for this 20 h duration. Transmission electron microscopy was used to visualize both intact and degraded bacteria within individual enterocytes, suggesting that prolonged bacterial survival might have resulted from simultaneous bacterial degradation and replication. Thus, although enterocytes internalize enteric bacteria, enterocytes might not kill internalized bacteria as efficiently as leukocytes. Observations of bacterial intracellular survival supported the hypothesis that the enterocyte might be a portal of entry for translocating microbes, and observations of intracellular bacterial degradation might have implications for the role of the enterocyte as an antigen-presenting cell.

Effect of hypoxia on enterocyte endocytosis of enteric bacteria

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the effect of hypoxia on bacteria-enterocyte interactions.

DESIGN

Randomized.

SETTING

Research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Enteric bacterial and cultured human intestinal epithelial cells, HT-29 cells.

INTERVENTIONS

The effect of hypoxia on bacterial internalization and intracellular survival was studied, using enterocytes cultured for 21 days in either 20%, 10%, or 5% oxygen. The effect of bacterial growth conditions on bacterial internalization by enterocytes was studied, using bacterial cells in either the log phase or stationary phase of aerobic growth, and using bacterial cells in stationary phase, grown either under low oxygen conditions or under anaerobic conditions.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Individual strains of enteric bacteria were incubated with HT-29 cells for 1 hr. Numbers of internalized bacteria were subsequently quantified after enterocyte lysis. Bacterial growth conditions (anaerobic vs. aerobic and log-phase vs. stationary-phase bacterial cells) had no noticeable effect on the numbers of Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, and Escherichia coli internalized by enterocytes. Enterocytes cultivated in 20%, 10%, or 5% oxygen were >95% viable. Enterocytes cultivated in 20% oxygen were confluent, but those enterocytes cultivated in hypoxia were not confluent and were fewer in number compared with enterocytes cultivated in normoxia. Compared with enterocytes grown in normoxia, enterocytes cultivated in 5% and 10% oxygen internalized greater numbers of each of seven strains of enteric bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes (two strains), Enterococcus faecalis (two strains), and P. mirabilis, E. coli (two strains), with statistically significant increases noted for five of these seven bacterial strains. Intracellular survival of L. monocytogenes and P. mirabilis was assayed. Both species survived intracellularly for 22 hrs, with no noticeable differences in the numbers of intracellular bacteria recovered from enterocytes cultivated in 20%, 10%, and 5% oxygen.

CONCLUSION

These in vitro results suggest that augmented bacterial endocytosis by enterocytes might at least partially explain the increased frequency of bacterial translocation associated with tissue ischemia.

Bacteroides fragilis enterotoxin modulates epithelial permeability and bacterial internalization by HT-29 enterocytes

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis has been associated with diarrheal disease, and the enterotoxin has a cytopathic effect on cultured HT-29 enterocytes. Experiments were designed to determine the effect of B. fragilis enterotoxin on bacteria-enterocyte interactions.

METHODS

Confluent HT-29 enterocytes were incubated for 1 hour with B. fragilis enterotoxin, followed by 1 hour of incubation with pure cultures of enteric bacteria, namely, Salmonella typhimurium (two strains), Listeria monocytogenes (three strains), Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli (three strains), and Enterococcus faecalis. Enterocyte viability was assessed using vital dyes, epithelial permeability was measured using transepithelial electrical resistance, enterocyte morphology and bacteria-enterocyte interactions were visualized using light and electron microscopy, and bacterial internalization was assessed using a quantitative culture of lysed enterocytes.

RESULTS

B. fragilis enterotoxin did not affect enterocyte viability but decreased transepithelial electrical resistance, and individual enterocytes pulled apart. Enterotoxin pretreatment decreased internalization of L. monocytogenes (P < 0.01) but increased (P < 0.01) internalization of the other strains of enteric bacteria. Augmented bacterial internalization was associated with preferential bacterial adherence on the exposed lateral surface of enterotoxin-treated enterocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

B. fragilis enterotoxin was associated with HT-29 cell rounding and with augmented internalization of selected strains of enteric bacteria that were preferentially adherent on the exposed enterocyte lateral surface.

Bacterial translocation in a large-animal model of small-bowel transplantation. Portal vs systemic venous drainage and the effect of tacrolimus immunosuppression

OBJECTIVE

To study whether bacterial translocation is more prevalent after small-bowel transplantation with systemic venous drainage (SVD) vs portal venous drainage (PVD) and whether it is influenced by immunosuppression.

DESIGN

We performed 15 small-bowel transplantations in pigs. Group 1 (n = 5) had SVD and no immunosuppression; group 2 (n = 6), PVD and no immunosuppression; and group 3 (n = 4), PVD and immunosuppression with tacrolimus and methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Portal and systemic blood, portal and mesenteric lymph nodes, and liver were cultured in donors and recipients on postoperative day 0 (POD 0) and in recipients on postoperative day 3 (POD 3). Jejunal and ileal contents were also sampled at these times.

SUBJECTS

Outbred male Yorkshire-Landrace pigs.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

(1) Blood and tissue bacterial cultures, (2) blood endotoxin levels, and (3) histopathologic examination.

RESULTS

Cultures were positive for bacteria in 32% (16/50) of samples on POD 0 and 88% (22/25) on POD 3 in group 1, in 18% (11/60) of samples on POD 0 and 97% (29/30) on POD 3 in group 2, and in 8% (3/40) of samples on POD 0 and 95% (19/20) on POD 3 in group 3. Systemic blood cultures were positive for bacteria on POD 3 in 60% (3/5) of pigs in group 1, 83% (5/6) in group 2, and 100% (4/4) in group 3. Significantly more bacteria were present in the ileum than in the jejunum on POD 0 in group 2; this difference approached significance in groups 1 and 3. Bacterial numbers were identical in the ileum and jejunum by POD 3 in all groups. Circulating endotoxin levels were significantly elevated on POD 3 vs POD 0 only in group 1. Endotoxin levels were not significantly different between the SVD group (group 1) and either PVD group (groups 2 and 3).

CONCLUSIONS

Bacterial translocation is prevalent after small-bowel transplantation in pigs whether PVD or SVD is used. Immunosuppression with tacrolimus does not prevent bacterial translocation but may reduce systemic endotoxemia.

Exposure of the lateral enterocyte membrane by dissociation of calcium-dependent junctional complex augments endocytosis of enteric bacteria

Intestinal bacterial translocation is facilitated in a variety of clinical conditions involving increased intestinal permeability, such as shock and trauma. Because there is both in vivo and in vitro evidence that enteric bacteria can be internalized by intestinal epithelial cells, experiments were designed to test the effect of increased intestinal permeability on enterocyte endocytosis of enteric bacteria. Mature, confluent cultures of HT-29 enterocytes were placed in a calcium-free solution for 1 h. Enterocyte viability was not noticeably altered, but transepithelial electrical resistance was significantly decreased (indicating a decrease in epithelial junctional integrity), and the enterocytes were pulled apart. Electron microscopic observations revealed enteric bacteria preferentially adherent on the exposed enterocyte lateral surface, and the numbers of viable enteric bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis) internalized by these enterocytes were significantly increased. Restoration of calcium restored confluency to enterocyte cultures, and bacterial internalization reverted to control levels. Thus, calcium-dependent junctional integrity might play a role in augmenting bacterial translocation in clinical conditions associated with increased intestinal permeability.

Inhibitory effect of bile on bacterial invasion of enterocytes: possible mechanism for increased translocation associated with obstructive jaundice

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the effect of bile salts on internalization of enteric bacteria by intestinal epithelial cells.

DESIGN

Randomized study.

SETTING

Research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Cultured human intestinal epithelial cells, namely HT-29 cells.

INTERVENTIONS

The effect of bile was studied by adding bile during the time period in which bacterial cells were permitted to interact with enterocytes. In subsequent experiments, bile was added to the culture medium used to grow bacteria, and bacterial cells were washed before adding bacteria to enterocytes. Three different concentrations of three different bile preparations were tested.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Salmonella typhimurium and Proteus mirabilis were each incubated with HT-29 cells for 1 hr; the numbers of internalized bacteria were subsequently quantified following enterocyte lysis. The presence of bile during bacteria-enterocyte incubation had no effect on the numbers of internalized bacteria. However, if S. typhimurium or P. mirabilis were grown in the presence of bile, these washed bacterial cells were generally internalized by HT-29 cells in significantly fewer numbers, compared with bacterial cells grown in medium without bile supplementation. Enterocyte viability and morphologic ultrastructure did not appear to be affected by the presence of bile itself, or by the interaction with bacterial cells that had been cultivated in unsupplemented medium or in bile-supplemented medium.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to bile during bacterial growth resulted in bacterial cells with decreased invasiveness for cultured intestinal epithelial cells. This observation is consistent with previous in vivo studies of obstructive jaundice, where the absence of bile in the intestinal lumen, not bile duct ligation, appeared to facilitate bacterial translocation in obstructed animals. Thus, the presence of bile in the intestinal lumen may decrease bacterial translocation by a mechanism that involves decreased epithelial internalization of enteric bacteria.

Bacterial translocation and lipopolysaccharide-induced mortality in genetically macrophage-deficient op/op mice

Genetically macrophage-deficient op/op mice have a total absence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (also known as colony-stimulating factor 1 or CSF-1), and therefore an absence of a population of macrophages dependent on CSF-1. op/op mice also have profound secondary deficiencies in certain cytokines secreted by this macrophage population, such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. In the present study, op/op mice were used to clarify the role of the macrophage in two clinical processes: (a) bacterial translocation in response to antibiotic-induced intestinal overgrowth, and (b) endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation, morbidity, and mortality. The results were unexpected, in that bacterial translocation and endotoxin-induced morbidity and mortality were similar in op/op mice and their functionally normal littermates. These data indicated either that a specific macrophage population and its cytokines (including tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1) might not play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of bacterial translocation and endotoxin-induced septic shock, or alternatively, as yet unknown redundancies in vivo might compensate for the genetic deficiencies associated with the op/op mutation.

Bacterial translocation in cultured enterocytes: magnitude, specificity, and electron microscopic observations of endocytosis

Previous in vivo evidence has shown that bacterial phagocytosis by enterocytes may be an initial step in bacterial translocation across the intestinal epithelium. This study analyzed the interactions of cultured enterocytes, namely Caco-2 cells, with nine strains of enteric bacteria, tested in pure culture and in mixed culture. These nine strains had a spectrum of invasive potential and included Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes (three strains), Escherichia coli (three strains), Proteus mirabilis, and Enterococcus faecalis. Numbers of viable intracellular bacteria recovered from Caco-2 cells were: L. monocytogenes > S. typhimurium > P. mirabilis > E. coli > E. faecalis. Uptake of a given microbe by enterocytes was strain-specific and was not influenced by the presence of another strain, regardless of the invasive ability of the coinfecting strain. Electron microscopic visualization of bacterial adherence and uptake by Caco-2 cells indicated that the epithelial interactions of normal enteric bacteria were similar to these observed with invasive strains of salmonella and listeria.

Effect of LPS on epithelial integrity and bacterial uptake in the polarized human enterocyte-like cell line Caco-2

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been speculated to facilitate bacterial translocation by a mechanism involving physical disruption of the gut mucosal barrier. Polarized, cultured intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2 cells) were used to study the effect of LPS on enterocyte structure, viability, and susceptibility to bacterial invasion. Varying concentrations of biologically active LPS were incubated with enterocytes for 1 and 16 hr. LPS had no noticeable effect on enterocyte viability or morphology, as measured by uptake of vital dyes, by distribution of cytoskeletal filamentous actin, and by visualization of subcellular ultrastructure. Transepithelial electrical resistance was similar in enterocyte cultures incubated with LPS for 1 hr, but there was a noticeable decrease after 16 hr, indicating a loss of epithelial integrity after prolonged exposure to LPS. The effect of LPS on bacterial uptake was studied using six strains of enteric bacteria with varying abilities to invade Caco-2 cells: Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli (2 strains), and Enterococcus faecalis. Electron microscopy showed enteric bacteria in intimate association with enterocyte apical microvilli, and internalized bacteria were consistently observed within cytoplasmic, membrane-bound vacuoles. Following a 1-hr incubation of individual strains of enteric bacteria with Caco-2 cells, numbers of viable intracellular bacteria varied significantly between individual bacterial strains, but numbers of intracellular bacteria were similar for each strain incubated with enterocytes exposed to 0, 10, and 100 micrograms LPS for 1 and 16 hr. Thus, although prolonged exposure to LPS might have some effect on enterocyte culture integrity (as measured by decreased electrical resistance), LPS had no discernible effect on enterocyte structure, viability, and susceptibility to bacterial invasion. These results suggested that LPS-induced bacterial translocation might not involve loss of epithelial viability, or facilitated entry of bacteria into intestinal epithelial cells.

Oral infectivity and bacterial interactions with mononuclear phagocytes

The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between the oral infectivity of a bacterial strain and its susceptibility to ingestion by mononuclear phagocytes or ability to survive within them. Ten bacterial strains tested--all of known oral infectivity--comprised Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes (three strains), Escherichia coli (two strains), Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacteroides fragilis, and a Bacteroides sp. The phagocytic uptake of each strain was measured as the bacteria to phagocyte ratio after mononuclear phagocytes in mouse peritoneal exudate were permitted to ingest bacteria in vivo for 3 min. The three Listeria strains were the most susceptible to phagocytic uptake and the Salmonella strain was relatively resistant. The intracellular survival of each strain was studied during a subsequent 2 h in-vitro incubation of the mononuclear phagocytes that had been permitted to ingest bacteria in vivo. The strains with the best intracellular survival were Ent. faecalis and two of the three Listeria strains. The ability of S. typhimurium to survive intracellularly was intermediate but better than that of the two E. coli strains. Oral infectivity was not consistently correlated with susceptibility to ingestion by mononuclear phagocytes or ability to survive within them.

Effect of fiber supplementation of liquid diet on cecal bacteria and bacterial translocation in mice

Liquid Isosource was supplemented with soy fiber (Isosource-soy) or guar fiber (Isosource-guar) to study the effects of fiber supplementation of a liquid diet on the composition of mouse cecal flora and on the incidence of bacterial translocation, quantified as the number of mice with viable intestinal bacteria recovered from mesenteric lymph nodes. Mice fed chow, Isosource, Isosource-soy, or Isosource-guar had similar concentrations of cecal bacteria and similarly low incidences of bacterial translocation. In separate experiments, mice were given parenteral metronidazole or parenteral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce cecal bacterial overgrowth and bacterial translocation. Compared with mice treated with diet alone, metronidazole- or LPS-treated mice had high numbers of cecal bacteria and high incidences of bacterial translocation. However, among the dietary groups of LPS-treated mice, the incidence of translocation was significantly less in mice fed Isosource-soy or Isosource-guar compared with mice fed unsupplemented Isosource. These results suggest that soy or guar supplementation of Isosource might be beneficial in some circumstances.

Effect of three liquid diets on cecal bacterial flora and bacterial translocation in mice

Separate groups of mice were fed either standard rodent chow or one of three liquid diets (Impact, Isosource HN, Fibersource HN) for 14 days to determine the effects of these liquid diets on the cecal bacterial flora and on the incidence of bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes. Liquid Isosource and liquid Fibersource had no noticeable effect on either the cecal bacterial flora or the incidence of bacterial translocation. Liquid Impact was associated with cecal bacterial overgrowth but had no effect on the incidence of bacterial translocation. Each of the liquid diets was then lyophilized and similarly fed to mice; none of the lyophilized diets had a noticeable effect on the cecal bacterial flora or the incidence of bacterial translocation. To test these liquid and lyophilized diets in stressed mice, separate groups of mice were again fed the various diets for 14 days but given parenteral Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 24 h before being killed. None of the liquid or lyophilized diets had a noticeable effect on the cecal bacterial overgrowth noticed in LPS-treated chow-fed mice. Compared with chow-fed mice, the typically elevated LPS-induced bacterial translocation was even more elevated in mice fed liquid diet but was somewhat decreased in mice fed lyophilized diet. Thus, the modulatory effects of these liquid diets on the cecal flora and the incidence of bacterial translocation appeared to depend on the composition of the diet and on prior treatment with parenteral LPS.

Relative contributions of host and microbial factors in bacterial translocation

To study the relative contributions of host and microbial factors in bacterial translocation, germfree mice were mono-associated with either Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, or Enterococcus faecalis. Germfree mice included T-cell-deficient nude mice and normal littermates, natural killer cell-deficient beige mice and normal littermates, and triply immunodeficient mice with beige, T-cell, and B-cell mutations and their littermates. Each bacterial species colonized the cecum in similarly high numbers. Bacteria were recovered from the mesenteric lymph node of every mouse in inconsistent numbers, eg, greater numbers of P mirabilis and E coli were recovered from T-cell-deficient nude mice than from their normal littermates, but the opposite was observed with E faecalis. Comparing the three bacterial species resulted in relatively consistent observations, eg, the incidence of E faecalis translocation to the liver was greater than that of E coli or P mirabilis translocation. Thus, the identity of the translocating microbe significantly affected the recovery of viable translocating bacteria.

Interactions of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis with mouse mononuclear phagocytes

Five strains of enterobacteria (three of Escherichia coli and two of Proteus mirabilis) were studied to assess and compare their phagocytic uptake and intracellular killing by mouse macrophages. Each strain was injected intraperitoneally into separate groups of mice and peritoneal exudate cells were harvested after 3 min for phagocytosis to occur in vivo. Acridine orange staining showed that there were approximately 10-fold fewer intracellular P. mirabilis than E. coli cells. The average numbers of viable intracellular bacteria per leucocyte were 0.03 and 0.02 for P. mirabilis strains M13 and H1, respectively, and 0.48, 0.45, and 0.28 for E. coli strains M14, A-D M5 and H40. Thus, both P. mirabilis strains were ingested less readily than any of the three E. coli strains (p less than 0.01). The rates of in-vitro intracellular killing were similar for all five strains of bacteria. The intracellular killing constants (Kk) for the three mouse isolates were 0.017, 0.016 and 0.020 min for E. coli M14 and A-D M5, and P. mirabilis M13, respectively; the Kks for the two human isolates were 0.026 and 0.029/min for E. coli H40 and P. mirabilis H1, respectively. The Kks for all five strains were not significantly different. Assuming that the numbers of viable intracellular bacteria at the beginning of the assay represented 100% viability, 6-17% of the intracellular bacteria remained viable after 2 h, reflecting log10 3.9-5.6 bacteria (6-8) x 10(6) peritoneal exudate cells. Intravenous injection of these five strains into separate groups of mice demonstrated that the P. mirabilis strains were more virulent than the E. coli strains. Injection of each P. mirabilis strain was associated with ruffled fur and death, whereas mice given any of the three E. coli strains remained visibly healthy and none died. Consistent with these observations, quantitation of viable bacteria in the liver and spleen showed that greater numbers of P. mirabilis M13 than of E. coli M14 or A-D M5 persisted in these organs; similarly greater numbers of P. mirabilis H1 than of E. coli H40 persisted in the liver and spleen. Because the rates of intracellular killing of these five strains were similar, the relative virulence of both strains of P. mirabilis appeared to be associated with decreased phagocytic uptake rather than differences in intracellular survival.

Evidence for the translocation of Enterococcus faecalis across the mouse intestinal tract

The pathogenesis of Enterococcus (Streptococcus) faecalis was studied in mice with E. faecalis intestinal overgrowth (10(9) - 10(10) per gram of cecum) induced by metronidazol and streptomycin treatment coupled with oral inoculation of E. faecalis. E. faecalis was recovered from the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen; mortality was noted in 8 (13%) of 62 mice after 14 days of E. faecalis intestinal overgrowth. Light, immunofluorescent, and electron (scanning and transmission) microscopy of ileal tissue was used in an attempt to localize E. faecalis translocating across intestinal tissue. Dense coccal bacteria were observed in the intestinal lumen, and the epithelium appeared intact. Coccal bacteria were observed adherent to the microvillus border of the entire villous epithelium, including the deeper regions of the intestinal crypts. Immunofluorescence localized E. faecalis within columnar epithelial cells, lamina propria, submucosa, and muscularis externa (including the lumen of small vessels). Transmission electron microscopy localized coccal bacteria within vacuoles in the cytoplasm of intact epithelial cells. These results indicated that E. faecalis could translocate across an intact intestinal tract and cause systemic infection and death. In this model, the intestinal epithelial cell appeared to be a portal of entry in the pathogenesis of systemic E. faecalis infection.

Effects of clindamycin and metronidazole on the intestinal colonization and translocation of enterococci in mice

The intestinal colonization and translocation of enterococci was studied in mice treated intramuscularly with metronidazole or clindamycin, with or without oral streptomycin. Treatment with metronidazole resulted in selective elimination of strictly anaerobic cecal bacteria, with a 100-fold increase in the numbers of aerobic and facultative gram-negative bacilli and a 10,000-fold increase in the numbers of aerobic and facultative gram-positive species. Clindamycin had a similar effect on the cecal flora except that the numbers of aerobic and facultative gram-positive bacteria decreased at least 10-fold. The predominating gram-positive species in the cecal flora or metronidazole-treated mice was an enterococcus, but this organism could not be recovered from the ceca of clindamycin-treated mice. Translocating bacteria (primarily gram-negative enteric bacteria) were recovered from the mesenteric lymph nodes of the majority of mice given metronidazole or clindamycin. Gram-positive bacteria were not recovered from the mesenteric lymph nodes of 20 clindamycin-treated mice, whereas 26% of 19 metronidazole-treated mice had translocating enterococci. With addition of streptomycin to the metronidazole and clindamycin regimens, mice treated with metronidazole-streptomycin became colonized predominantly with an enterococcus, and this was the only translocating species recovered from 13% of 23 mice; however, enterococci could not be detected in the ceca of clindamycin-streptomycin-treated mice, and Bacillus spp. were recovered from the mesenteric lymph nodes of 8% of 24 mice, reflecting the composition of the cecal flora. The apparent elimination of enterococci from the ceca of clindamycin and clindamycin-streptomycin-treated mice was inconsistent with the observation that the average (n=6) peak levels of clindamycin in blood and ceca were 25 and 21 microgram/ml, respectively, whereas the in vitro MIC was 128 microgram/ml. However, this apparent in vivo activity of clindamycin against enterococci was not evident in mice given 10(9) oral enterococci; the concentrations of cecal enterococci in both clindamycin-streptomycin- and metronidazole-streptomycin-treated mice were 10(10) to 10(11) enterococci per g, with translocating enterococci recovered from approximately half of these antibiotic-treated mice. Thus antibiotic therapy with metronidazole, clindamycin, metronidazole-streptomycin, and clindamycin-streptomycin resulted in a wide variation in the cecal population levels and translocation frequencies of enterococci. This variation appeared to be related to the discrepancy between the in vivo and in vitro activities of clindamycin against enterococci.

Role of intestinal anaerobic bacteria in colonization resistance

The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the intestinal anaerobe bacteria in colonization resistance. Germfree mice were associated with Escherichia coli C25 and either (a) no other species; (b) enterococcus; (c) Escherichia coli M14 and Proteus mirabilis, or (d) Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides vulgatus. All species colonized the cecum in high numbers, but only enterococcus significantly limited the translocation of Escherichia coli C25 to mesenteric lymph nodes. However, the overall translocation rates were similar in all groups and ranged from 60% to 100%, due to translocation of other intestinal flora in addition to Escherichia coli C25. Conventionally reared mice were given either streptomycin, bacitracin/streptomycin or metronidazole which selectively eliminated facultative gram-negative bacteria, nearly all bacterial species or strictly anaerobic bacteria respectively. Only metronidazole significantly increased the rates of translocation of normal intestinal bacteria into mesenteric lymph nodes. Cohort groups of mice were then orally inoculated with drug resistant Escherichia coli C25, which actively colonized the cecum of all drug treated mice and translocated to the mesenteric lymph nodes of approximately half the streptomycin and metronidazole treated mice and nearly all the bacitracin/streptomycin treated mice. These results indicate that anaerobic bacteria play a pivotal role in limiting the translocation of normal intestinal bacteria, but that other bacterial groups also have a role in preventing the intestinal colonization and translocation of potential pathogens.

Role of anaerobic flora in the translocation of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic intestinal bacteria

It is thought that the normal enteric microflora acts not only to prevent intestinal colonization but also to prevent subsequent systemic dissemination of ingested, potentially pathogenic bacteria. To determine the relative roles of specific components of the intestinal bacterial flora in bacterial translocation out of the gut, mice were given various antimicrobial agents to selectively eliminate specific groups of intestinal bacteria. The cecal flora and the translocating bacteria in mesenteric lymph nodes were monitored both before and after oral inoculation with antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli C25. Orally administered streptomycin selectively eliminated cecal facultative gram-negative bacilli, orally administered bacitracin-streptomycin eliminated all cecal bacterial species except low numbers of aerobic sporeformers, and parenterally administered metronidazole selectively eliminated cecal anaerobic bacteria. Compared with control mice, only metronidazole-treated mice had significantly increased rates of dissemination of intestinal bacteria into mesenteric lymph nodes, indicating that the exclusive absence of anaerobic bacteria facilitated the translocation of the intestinal facultative bacteria. In a parallel experiment with streptomycin-resistant E. coli C25 as a marker, parallel results were obtained. Metronidazole increased the translocation of the marker strain and the indigenous strains of intestinal bacteria. Thus, anaerobes appeared to play a key role in confining indigenous bacteria to the gut. However, intestinal colonization and translocation of E. coli C25 occurred most readily after bacitracin-streptomycin treatment, suggesting that in addition to anaerobic bacteria, other bacterial groups may play a role in limiting the intestinal colonization and extraintestinal dissemination of E. coli C25.

Ability of intestinal Escherichia coli to survive within mesenteric lymph nodes

Identification of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) bacteria showed that indigenous streptomycin-sensitive Escherichia coli could be recovered from MLN at least 48 h after this organism had been essentially eliminated from the cecal flora by antibiotics and replaced with exogenous streptomycin-sensitive E. coli JK. Additional experiments with antibiotic-treated rats also showed that indigenous streptomycin-sensitive E. coli could be recovered from the MLN 4 days after elimination of this organism from the cecal flora. These findings suggest that the time of bacterial translocation to MLN may be kinetically different from the time of recovery of bacteria from MLN and that the MLN may be a focus of infection with intestinal bacteria.