Establishment and characterization of a mouse model of chronic Salmonella enterica infection as a proposed animal model for human inflammatory bowel disease

The aim of this study was to establish a bacteria-induced mouse model of human IBD applicable for investigation of the role of commensal versus pathogenic bacteria in the onset and development of chronic intestinal inflammation. The mouse model introduced in the present work focused on chronic inflammatory reaction triggered by S. enterica infection. Furthermore, differences between the acute and chronic phase of infection were analyzed. Additionally, it was investigated, whether antibiotic treatment prior to infection has a significant impact on the course of the systemic or local mucosal immune response against S. enterica. Due to the significant increase of the IL-22 level reported from IBD patients, and the assumed crucial role of this immunoregulatory cytokine for human IBD a special focus of this study was to analyze the role of IL-22 in the established mouse model of bacteria-induced chronic colitis.