A novel approach to probe host-pathogen interactions of bovine digital dermatitis, a model of a complex polymicrobial infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Polymicrobial infections represent a great challenge for the clarification of disease etiology and the development of comprehensive diagnostic or therapeutic tools, particularly for fastidious and difficult-to-cultivate bacteria. Using bovine digital dermatitis (DD) as a disease model, we introduce a novel strategy to study the pathogenesis of complex infections.

Results

The strategy combines meta-transcriptomics with high-density peptide-microarray technology to screen for in vivo-expressed microbial genes and the host antibody response at the site of infection. Bacterial expression patterns supported the assumption that treponemes were the major DD pathogens but also indicated the active involvement of other phyla (primarily Bacteroidetes). Bacterial genes invol

SUBMITTER: Marcatili P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5142292 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature