Sex Differences in Susceptibility of ICR Mice to Oral Infection with Corynebacterium kutscheri.

Abstract

Sex difference in susceptibility to oral infection with Corynebacterium (C.) kutscheri was experimentally studied in ICR mice. Immature (4-week-old) and adult (14-week-old) mice were inoculated with two infecting doses of C. kutscheri, and necropsied for bacteriological and serological survey 4 weeks after the bacterial infection. No macroscopic lesions at necropsy were demonstrated, except for one adult male given 10(9) bacteria. In immature mice, C. Kutscheri isolated from the oral cavity and cecum with FNC agar, were recovered in only 40.0% of female mice but in 90.0% of male mice given 10(6) bacteria (p < 0.05), and in only 55.6% of female mice but in 80.0% male mice given 10(8) bacteria. In adult mice given 10(9) bacteria, the organism were recovered in only 45.5% of female mice but in 90.9% of male mice (p < 0.05), furthermore, the mean number of organisms in the cecum of male mice harboring the organism was significantly higher than that in females (p < 0.01). Castration caused an increase in host resistance in adult male mice. These results indicated that ICR male mice were more susceptible than females, in terms of bacterial colonization in the cecum and the oral cavity, to oral infection with C. kutscheri.

Detection of Corynebacterium kutscheri in the faeces of subclinically infected mice

“…We have also found differences in susceptibility to infection with C. kutscheri among sexes and various mouse strains (Amao et al 1993, Komukai et al 1999. These differences may be important when screening for infection with C. kutscheri.…”

Bacterial communities in meerkat anal scent secretions vary with host sex, age, and group membership

“…Sex differences in the integument microbiota of adults have been shown in various species spanning multiple taxonomic groups, including humans (Fierer et al 2008), greater sac-winged bats, Saccopteryx bilineata (Voigt et al 2005), white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Alexy et al 2003), and great tits, Parus major (Saag et al 2011). As is typical of vertebrate reproductive development, sexual maturity in meerkats is associated with sex-specific hormonal changes (Moss et al 2001) that might directly affect microbiota (Styrt and Sugarman 1991;Komukai et al 1999;Freestone et al 2008) or the microenvironment in which they flourish.…”

Estradiol downregulates NF-κb translocation by Ikbkg transcriptional repression in dendritic cells

“…Females mount more vigorous antibody-and cellmediated immune responses than males following infection or vaccination. [1][2][3][4][5] However, increased immunity in females is a double-edged sword: its beneficial effects against infectious diseases are countered by the greater possibility of autoimmune diseases. [6][7][8] Furthermore, in order to be compatible with reproduction, immune responses against allogeneic sperm or the semi-allogeneic zygote must be prevented.…”