Strain-Specific Virulence Phenotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae Assessed Using the Chinchilla laniger Model of Otitis Media

摘要: Background Streptococcus pneumoniae [Sp] infection is associated with local and systemic disease. Our current understanding of the differential contributions genetic strain variation, serotype, host response to disease phenotype incomplete. Using chinchilla model otitis media [OM] we investigated generated by laboratory TIGR4 each thirteen clinical strains (BS68-75, BS290, BS291, BS293, BS436 BS437); eleven have been genomically sequenced. Methodology/Principal Findings For 100 colony forming units were injected bilaterally into tympanic bullae 6 young adult chinchillas under general anesthesia. All animals examined daily for a blinded observer. Pneumatic otoscopy was used evaluate disease, behavioral assessments served as measure Virulence scoring performed using 4-point scale assess four parameters [severity rapidity onset; severity onset] during 10-day evaluation period. Highly significant variation observed among in their ability cause moribundity. Conclusions/Significance As expected, there correlation between onset disease; however, little otoscopic changes Importantly, it that different same serotype produced broad an array phenotypes did serotypes. We attribute these phenotypic differences high degree genomic plasticity previously documented.