Reversible microbial colonization of germ-free mice reveals the dynamics of IgA immune responses

Hapfelmeier, Siegfried; Lawson, Melissa A E; Slack, Emma; Kirundi, Jorum K; Stoel, Maaike; Heikenwalder, Mathias; Cahenzli, Julia; Velykoredko, Yuliya; Balmer, Maria L; Endt, Kathrin; Geuking, Markus B; Curtiss, Roy; McCoy, Kathy D; Macpherson, Andrew J (2010). Reversible microbial colonization of germ-free mice reveals the dynamics of IgA immune responses. Science, 328(5986), pp. 1705-1709. Washington, D.C.: American Association for the Advancement of Science 10.1126/science.1188454

Full text not available from this repository.

The lower intestine of adult mammals is densely colonized with nonpathogenic (commensal) microbes. Gut bacteria induce protective immune responses, which ensure host-microbial mutualism. The continuous presence of commensal intestinal bacteria has made it difficult to study mucosal immune dynamics. Here, we report a reversible germ-free colonization system in mice that is independent of diet or antibiotic manipulation. A slow (more than 14 days) onset of a long-lived (half-life over 16 weeks), highly specific anticommensal immunoglobulin A (IgA) response in germ-free mice was observed. Ongoing commensal exposure in colonized mice rapidly abrogated this response. Sequential doses lacked a classical prime-boost effect seen in systemic vaccination, but specific IgA induction occurred as a stepwise response to current bacterial exposure, such that the antibody repertoire matched the existing commensal content.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine > Gastroenterology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine > Visceral Surgery

UniBE Contributor:

Hapfelmeier, Siegfried Hektor, Geuking, Markus, Macpherson, Andrew

ISSN:

0036-8075

Publisher:

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Language:

English

Submitter:

Siegfried Hektor Hapfelmeier-Balmer

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:09

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:00

Publisher DOI:

10.1126/science.1188454

PubMed ID:

20576892

Web of Science ID:

000279107400047

Additional Information:

Hapfelmeier and Macpherson are co-corresponding authors

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/836 (FactScience: 200983)

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback