Characterization of systemic and pneumonic murine models of plague infection using a conditionally virulent strain.

ABSTRACT: Yersinia pestis causes bubonic and pneumonic plague in humans. The pneumonic infection is the most severe and invariably fatal if untreated. Because of its high virulence, ease of delivery and precedent of use in warfare, Y. pestis is considered as a potential bioterror agent. No licensed plague vaccine is currently available in the US. Laboratory research with virulent strains requires appropriate biocontainment (i.e., Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) for procedures that generate aerosol/droplets) and secure facilities that comply with federal select agent regulations. To assist in the identification of promising vaccine candidates during the early phases of development, we characterized mouse models of systemic and pneumonic plague infection using the Y. pestis strain EV76, an attenuated human

SUBMITTER: Mellado-Sanchez G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3594127 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature