Current studentsExisting staffContact us
 

A longitudinal evaluation of localised chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis rat models

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorReyne, N.
dc.contributor.authorBoog, B.
dc.contributor.authorCmielewski, P.
dc.contributor.authorMcCarron, A.
dc.contributor.authorSmith, R.
dc.contributor.authorRout-Pitt, N.
dc.contributor.authorEikelis, N.
dc.contributor.authorNilsen, K.
dc.contributor.authorFinnie, J.
dc.contributor.authorLouise, J.
dc.contributor.authorParsons, D.
dc.contributor.authorDonnelley, M.
dc.date.issued2026
dc.descriptionOnlinePubl
dc.description.abstractRecurrent bacterial infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa result in chronic airway inflammation, lung damage and eventual respiratory failure, and are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Animal models are essential for understanding disease progression and assessing potential treatments in the presence of infection. Previously reported P. aeruginosa lung infection rodent models for CF research have weaknesses that include being acute rather than chronic infections, high levels of associated mortality, use laboratory strains of P. aeruginosa, or do not utilise CF rodents. The aim of this study was to create a localised single-lung P. aeruginosa infection in wildtype and two CF rat models, by using a miniature bronchoscope to deliver bacteria embedded in agar beads generated from a clinical CF bacterial isolate. Cohorts of animals were assessed at days 7, 14, 21 and 63. The number of colony forming units were measured, along with bronchoalveolar lavage, flexiVent mechanics, X-ray Velocimetry (XV) ventilation analysis, and histopathology. The resulting infection was well tolerated by all animals of all genotypes with no mortality associated with the procedure or infection. The right-lung exhibited localised acute bronchopneumonia and lymphocytic vasculitis early, progressing to chronic interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis and emphysema. Bacteria persisted for 9 weeks (63 days) in all genotypes, with lung mechanics changes observed by day 63 of the infection. The precise delivery of bacterial laden beads using a miniature bronchoscope generated a controlled and reproducible infection that persisted for up to nine weeks, with minimal impact on animal health.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityNicole Reyne, Bernadette Boog, Patricia Cmielewski, Alexandra McCarron, Ronan Smith, Nathan Rout-Pitt, Nina Eikelis, Kris Nilsen, John Finnie, Jennie Louise, David Parsons and Martin Donnelley
dc.identifier.citationBMC Microbiology, 2026; 26(1):1-25
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s12866-026-04893-0
dc.identifier.issn1471-2180
dc.identifier.issn1471-2180
dc.identifier.orcidReyne, N. [0000-0002-3487-0827]
dc.identifier.orcidCmielewski, P. [0000-0002-2236-9410]
dc.identifier.orcidSmith, R. [0000-0002-5748-9295]
dc.identifier.orcidRout-Pitt, N. [0000-0002-4003-4454]
dc.identifier.orcidFinnie, J. [0000-0003-2277-1693]
dc.identifier.orcidLouise, J. [0000-0001-5785-0290]
dc.identifier.orcidParsons, D. [0000-0003-1746-3290]
dc.identifier.orcidDonnelley, M. [0000-0002-5320-7756]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/149510
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBMC
dc.rights© Crown 2026. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-026-04893-0
dc.subjectPseudomonas aeruginosa; lung infection; cystic fibrosis; animal model
dc.titleA longitudinal evaluation of localised chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis rat models
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished online

Files

Collections

Research Outputs