Journal Article

A refined low-dose murine model of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection to assess integrated immune networks in Buruli ulcer pathogenesis

McQuilten, Hayley A., Howden, Brian, Chua, Brendon Y., Stinear, Timothy P., Foo, Isabelle J. H., Kedzierski, Lukasz, Porter, Jessica L., Kedzierska, Katherine, Muhi, Stephen, Buultjens, Andrew H.

2025

Overview

Buruli ulcer (BU) is an infection of subcutaneous tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans . This bacterial infection affects the lives of thousands of people each year across West and Central Africa and Australia. Recent research showed that as few as 2–3 M. ulcerans are sufficient to cause infection. Unfortunately, earlier laboratory studies have used unrealistically high bacterial doses to test new vaccines or to understand host responses, compromising subsequent conclusions. This research is significant because it takes a fresh approach to develop an experimental animal infection model for BU that uses a carefully calibrated and realistic infectious dose. The findings from assessing this new infection model are the foundation for an ambitious new program to develop a controlled human infection model for M. ulcerans , a platform for developing new therapies to prevent and treat BU.

• Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
• Subject: Animal models / Animals / Bacteriology / Buruli ulcer / Buruli Ulcer - immunology / Buruli Ulcer - microbiology / Buruli Ulcer - pathology / CD8 antigen / CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology / Clinical trials / Dendritic cells / Disease Models, Animal / Female / Flow cytometry / Glycerol / host response / Immune response / immunity / Immunology / Infections / Inoculum / Lymphocytes T / Mice / Mice, Inbred BALB C / Mice, Inbred C57BL / Mycobacterium ulcerans / Mycobacterium ulcerans - immunology / Mycobacterium ulcerans - pathogenicity / neglected tropical skin diseases / Pathogens / Research Article / Strains (organisms) / Ulcers / Vaccines