Gastrointestinal (GI) tract infections involve both the stomach and the small intestine. A number of pathogens cause uncomplicated and/or secretory diarrhea, and severe cases can lead to dehydration, sepsis, and even death. Some infections result from broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, which can disrupt the gut microbiota and provide the opportunity for disease. The objective of our murine gastrointestinal colonization and infection model is to evaluate the efficacy of novel antimicrobial therapies for GI disease.

Procedure
We have established a gastrointestinal infection model in mice in which animals are challenged with a pathogen via oral gavage (PO). Animals may be exposed to a cocktail of antibiotics in the drinking water to disrupt the intestinal microbiota and increase susceptibility to infection. Test article may be administered via oral (PO) or perirectal (PR) administration, subcutaneous (SC), intravenous (IV) or intraperitoneal (IP) injection, or via diet or drinking water. Each study parameter (animal strain, pathogen, comparator(s), dosing schedule) can be customized to meet client needs.

Endpoints for this study include mortality tracking, clinical observations, weight tracking, and CFU burden in feces, organs, and/or blood. Pharmacokinetic profiling, blood chemistry, tissue harvests, and histology are available upon request.

Sample Data

Pathogens
TransPharm has validated a gastrointestinal model using the following pathogens:

• Escherichia coli
  • ATCC 48395
• Clostridium difficile
  • ATCC 3255
• Enterococcus faecalis
  • ATCC 700221
  • ATCC 700802
  • EFS-007
• Enterococcus faecium
  • 03B1022
• Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
  • CDC 6516-60

Additional validations are available upon request.