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Systemic Infection of Mice with Listeria monocytogenes to Characterize Host Immune Responses

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Mouse Models of Innate Immunity

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1031))

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive facultative intracellular bacterium that is widely used to characterize bacterial pathogenesis and host immunity. Here, we describe a set of basic methods and techniques to infect mice with L. monocytogenes, measure bacterial load in tissues, and analyze immune cell subsets responding to infection in the spleen and liver. In addition, a specialized method for immune cell depletion is incorporated within the overall protocol, along with suggestions at various points in the protocol for minimizing experimental variability in mouse infection studies using L. monocytogenes. Finally, we highlight a number of experimental strategies for which L. monocytogenes has facilitated research into host immune responses and bacterial pathogenesis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Anna Walduck, Christina Cheers, Patrick Reading, Andrew Brooks, Stuart Berzins, Dale Godfrey, Yifan Zhan, and Jonathan Wilksch for advice and reagents. This work was supported by the Juvenile diabetes Research Foundation (1-2008-602), the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (1029231, 1030865), and the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. NW is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award. O.L.W. is supported by a RD Wright Fellowship from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immunology and Diabetes, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia

    Nancy Wang & Thomas C. Brodnicki

  2. Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Richard A. Strugnell & Odilia L. Wijburg

Authors
  1. Nancy Wang
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  2. Richard A. Strugnell
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  3. Odilia L. Wijburg
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  4. Thomas C. Brodnicki
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  1. , Dept. of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiol, Virginia Tech, Duckpond Drive, Blacksburg, 24061, Virginia, USA

    Irving C. Allen

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Wang, N., Strugnell, R.A., Wijburg, O.L., Brodnicki, T.C. (2013). Systemic Infection of Mice with Listeria monocytogenes to Characterize Host Immune Responses. In: Allen, I. (eds) Mouse Models of Innate Immunity. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1031. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-481-4_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-481-4_16

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-480-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-481-4

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