A mouse mastitis model to study the effects of the intramammary infusion of a food-grade Lactococcus lactis strain.

Lactococcus lactis is one of the most important microorganisms in the dairy industry and has "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) status. L. lactis belongs to the group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and is encountered in a wide range of environments. Recently, the use of the intramammary...

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Main Authors: Cristina Camperio, Federica Armas, Elena Biasibetti, Paolo Frassanito, Carlo Giovannelli, Liliana Spuria, Claudia D'Agostino, Sabrina Tait, Maria Teresa Capucchio, Cinzia Marianelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0184218&type=printable
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author Cristina Camperio
Federica Armas
Elena Biasibetti
Paolo Frassanito
Carlo Giovannelli
Liliana Spuria
Claudia D'Agostino
Sabrina Tait
Maria Teresa Capucchio
Cinzia Marianelli
author_facet Cristina Camperio
Federica Armas
Elena Biasibetti
Paolo Frassanito
Carlo Giovannelli
Liliana Spuria
Claudia D'Agostino
Sabrina Tait
Maria Teresa Capucchio
Cinzia Marianelli
author_sort Cristina Camperio
collection DOAJ
description Lactococcus lactis is one of the most important microorganisms in the dairy industry and has "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) status. L. lactis belongs to the group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and is encountered in a wide range of environments. Recently, the use of the intramammary infusion of a live culture of LAB has been investigated as a new antibiotic alternative for treating mastitis in dairy ruminants. Controversial results are described in literature regarding its efficacy and safety. In this study we conducted in-depth investigation of the mammary gland immune response induced by intramammary inoculum of a live culture of L. lactis LMG 7930 using the mouse mastitis model. Overnight cultures either of L. lactis (≈ 107 CFU) or of the mastitis pathogens Staphylococcus chromogenes (≈ 105 CFU) or S. aureus (≈ 102 CFU/ml) were injected into the mouse inguinal glands. A double injection, consisting of S. chromogenes first and then L. lactis, was also investigated. Bacterial recovery from the gland and inflammatory cell infiltration were assessed. L. lactis-treated and control glands were analysed for proinflammatory cytokine production. Microbiological results showed that L. lactis was able to survive in the mammary gland 24 h post infection, as were the mastitis pathogens S. chromogenes and S. aureus. L. lactis reduced S. chromogenes survival in the glands and increased its own survival ability by coexisting with the pathogen. Histology showed that L. lactis-treated glands presented variable histological features, ranging from undamaged tissue with no inflammatory cell infiltrate to severe PMN infiltrate with focal areas of tissue damage. S. aureus-treated glands showed the most severe histological grade of inflammation despite the fact that the inoculum size was the smallest. In contrast, most S. chromogenes-treated glands showed normal structures with no infiltration or lesions. Significant increases in IL-1β and TNF-α levels were also found in L. lactis-inoculated glands. The above findings seem to suggest that food-grade L. lactis at a high-inoculum dose such as an overnight culture may elicit a suppurative inflammatory response in the mammary gland, thus becoming a potential mastitis-causing pathogen. Because of the unpredictable potential of L. lactis in acting as a potential mastitis pathogen, this organism cannot be considered a safe treatment for bovine mastitis.
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spelling doaj-art-8ecd371be74d47cb9f4d8b157aa96aee2025-08-20T02:03:55ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01129e018421810.1371/journal.pone.0184218A mouse mastitis model to study the effects of the intramammary infusion of a food-grade Lactococcus lactis strain.Cristina CamperioFederica ArmasElena BiasibettiPaolo FrassanitoCarlo GiovannelliLiliana SpuriaClaudia D'AgostinoSabrina TaitMaria Teresa CapucchioCinzia MarianelliLactococcus lactis is one of the most important microorganisms in the dairy industry and has "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) status. L. lactis belongs to the group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and is encountered in a wide range of environments. Recently, the use of the intramammary infusion of a live culture of LAB has been investigated as a new antibiotic alternative for treating mastitis in dairy ruminants. Controversial results are described in literature regarding its efficacy and safety. In this study we conducted in-depth investigation of the mammary gland immune response induced by intramammary inoculum of a live culture of L. lactis LMG 7930 using the mouse mastitis model. Overnight cultures either of L. lactis (≈ 107 CFU) or of the mastitis pathogens Staphylococcus chromogenes (≈ 105 CFU) or S. aureus (≈ 102 CFU/ml) were injected into the mouse inguinal glands. A double injection, consisting of S. chromogenes first and then L. lactis, was also investigated. Bacterial recovery from the gland and inflammatory cell infiltration were assessed. L. lactis-treated and control glands were analysed for proinflammatory cytokine production. Microbiological results showed that L. lactis was able to survive in the mammary gland 24 h post infection, as were the mastitis pathogens S. chromogenes and S. aureus. L. lactis reduced S. chromogenes survival in the glands and increased its own survival ability by coexisting with the pathogen. Histology showed that L. lactis-treated glands presented variable histological features, ranging from undamaged tissue with no inflammatory cell infiltrate to severe PMN infiltrate with focal areas of tissue damage. S. aureus-treated glands showed the most severe histological grade of inflammation despite the fact that the inoculum size was the smallest. In contrast, most S. chromogenes-treated glands showed normal structures with no infiltration or lesions. Significant increases in IL-1β and TNF-α levels were also found in L. lactis-inoculated glands. The above findings seem to suggest that food-grade L. lactis at a high-inoculum dose such as an overnight culture may elicit a suppurative inflammatory response in the mammary gland, thus becoming a potential mastitis-causing pathogen. Because of the unpredictable potential of L. lactis in acting as a potential mastitis pathogen, this organism cannot be considered a safe treatment for bovine mastitis.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0184218&type=printable
spellingShingle Cristina Camperio
Federica Armas
Elena Biasibetti
Paolo Frassanito
Carlo Giovannelli
Liliana Spuria
Claudia D'Agostino
Sabrina Tait
Maria Teresa Capucchio
Cinzia Marianelli
A mouse mastitis model to study the effects of the intramammary infusion of a food-grade Lactococcus lactis strain.
PLoS ONE
title A mouse mastitis model to study the effects of the intramammary infusion of a food-grade Lactococcus lactis strain.
title_full A mouse mastitis model to study the effects of the intramammary infusion of a food-grade Lactococcus lactis strain.
title_fullStr A mouse mastitis model to study the effects of the intramammary infusion of a food-grade Lactococcus lactis strain.
title_full_unstemmed A mouse mastitis model to study the effects of the intramammary infusion of a food-grade Lactococcus lactis strain.
title_short A mouse mastitis model to study the effects of the intramammary infusion of a food-grade Lactococcus lactis strain.
title_sort mouse mastitis model to study the effects of the intramammary infusion of a food grade lactococcus lactis strain
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0184218&type=printable
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