Host factors in the resistance of newborn mice to K1 Escherichia coli infection.

It is not clear which factors are responsible for the deficient resistance of human neonates to K1 E. coli sepsis and meningitis. To evaluate the relative importance of different defense mechanisms against bacterial invasion, we have analyzed the sensitivity of newborn mice with known immune deficiencies to infection after oral challenge with virulent K1 E. coli. T and B lymphocyte and complement (C5) defects had no significant effect on natural resistance. In contrast, both endotoxin-hyporesponsive mouse strains tested were highly sensitive. This susceptibility to infection was strongly age dependent. Infant endotoxin-hyporesponsive mice were killed by i.p. injection of less than ten virulent K1 E. coli cells. In contrast, endotoxin-responsive animals and F1 hybrids derived from crosses between endotoxin-responsive and hyporesponsive mice survived an injection with up to 10(4) bacteria. Mutants of a virulent 018:K1 E. coli strain defective in the synthesis of the capsular polysaccharide or the O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide were avirulent as were 01:K1 bacteria, which are under-represented among E. coli isolates from neonatal meningitis. Endotoxin-hyporesponsive mice were protected from lethal bacterial challenge by monoclonal IgG specific for the O-antigen of the challenge strain or by human recombinant interleukin 1. A fulminant bacterial multiplication in the bloodstream of endotoxin-hyporesponsive mice was observed after i.v. injection of 100 virulent K1 E. coli cells. Persistent bacteremia with 10(5) to 10(6) bacteria per ml of blood resulted in death of the animals one to two days after challenge. In the bloodstream of endotoxin-responsive mice the bacteria proliferated to a comparable extent within the first 6 h after challenge. Thereafter they were rapidly cleared from the circulation and the animals recovered from the infection.