Immunization with killedEscherichia coliincreases resistance of lipopolysaccharide-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice to experimental urinary tract infection

Abstract

C3H/HeJ mice are highly susceptible to experimental ascending urinary tract infection. After a 4-week intraperitoneal immunization regimen with killed Escherichia coli, these mice became more resistant to urinary tract infection. The level of resistance induced by this regimen in this strain was similar to that of the normally more resistant C3HeB/FeJ strain of mouse and was evident from 3 to 14 days after transurethral challenge with E. coli. Increased resistance also developed after a 2- or 3-week immunization regimen, but this resistance was not apparent until 14 days after challenge.