In vivo analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica infection using luxCDABE

Abstract

Yersiniae expressing an L-arabinose-inducible luxCDABE reporter were used to analyze the colonization of mice. Infection of live mice was followed over a period of 6 days. These experiments revealed frequent colonization of cervical lymph nodes after oral, but not intravenous infection. Furthermore, the well-known colonization of the small intestine, Peyer's patches (PPs) of the ileum, the cecal lymph follicle, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen was easily detectable. Removal of the intestinal tract of mice revealed that the number of abscessed PPs and other tissues can be easily quantified. Experiments with an invasin mutant expressing luxCDABE revealed a significantly reduced number of abscessed PPs, cecal lymph follicles, and lymph nodes in yersiniae lacking invasin.