DESFERRIOXAMINE-PROMOTED VIRULENCE OF YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA IN MICEDEPENDS ON BOTH DESFERRIOXAMINE TYPE AND MOUSE STRAIN

The effects of desferrioxamine B (DFOB) and G (DFOG) on growth promoti on and virulence of Yersinia enterocolitica as well as on T cell activ ation and proliferation were investigated. Both desferrioxamines promo ted growth of Y. enterocolitica O:8 (WA-314) and O:3 (Y-108). DFOB had a greater immunosuppressive effect on T cells than did DFOG. These re sults suggest a dual role of DFOB in yersiniosis: growth promotion of the pathogen and immunosuppression of the host. The LD(50) of both Yer sinia strains for mice was reduced by DFOB but not by DFOG. However, t he LD(50) of yersiniae was reduced by DFOB to a greater extent in Yers inia-resistant C57BL/6 than in Yersinia-susceptible BALB/c mice. The d ifferent impact of DFOB on the LD(50) of Y. enterocolitica in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice might be due to an immunomodulating effect of DFOB.