Ascorbate deficiency increases progression of shigellosis in guinea pigs and mice infection models.

ABSTRACT: Shigella spp. are the causative agents of bacterial dysentery and shigellosis, mainly in children living in developing countries. The study of Shigella entire life cycle in vivo and the evaluation of vaccine candidates' protective efficacy have been hampered by the lack of a suitable animal model of infection. None of the studies evaluated so far (rabbit, guinea pig, mouse) allowed the recapitulation of full shigellosis symptoms upon Shigella oral challenge. Historical reports have suggested that dysentery and scurvy are both metabolic diseases associated with ascorbate deficiency. Mammals, which are susceptible to Shigella infection (humans, non-human primates and guinea pigs) are among the few species unable to synthesize ascorbate. We optimized a low-a

SUBMITTER: Skerniskyte J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10730169 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature