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Assessing Humoral and Cellular Immunity in a Rat Model of Staphylococcal Bacterial Pneumonia

Penilaian Imunitas Humoral dan Seluler pada Model Tikus Pneumonia Bakteri Staphylococcus
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025): Oktober:
Published : Aug 19, 2025

Wasan Abdulateef Majeed (1), Ola Abdulkareem Kadhim (2), Zainab Hussein Mahdi (3)

(1) Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Diyala, Iraq
(2) Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Anbar, Iraq
(3) Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Diyala, Iraq
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Abstract:

General Background: Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia remains a major global health concern due to its virulence, biofilm formation, and rising methicillin-resistant strains, which complicate treatment. Specific Background: Understanding the interplay between humoral and cellular immunity is crucial for designing effective interventions, as both antibody-mediated and T-cell–mediated responses contribute to pathogen clearance. Knowledge Gap: While immune evasion strategies of S. aureus are documented, quantitative insights into the temporal dynamics of antibody production, T-cell proliferation, and cytokine release during infection are limited. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the kinetics of humoral and cellular immune responses in a rat model of S. aureus pneumonia. Results: Infected rats exhibited significantly elevated IgM and IgG levels, with IgM peaking at day 14 and IgG progressively increasing. Splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production (IFN-γ, IL-4) were markedly enhanced, particularly at day 21, indicating strong Th1 and Th2 activation. Novelty: The study provides an integrated temporal profile of dual-arm immunity in experimental S. aureus pneumonia, demonstrating concurrent robust humoral and cellular activation. Implications: These findings highlight the necessity of targeting both antibody and T-cell responses in vaccine design, potentially guiding the development of immunotherapies for effective prevention and treatment of S. aureus pneumonia.
Highlight :



  • IgM peaked on day 14, while IgG continued to rise until the end of the study.

  • Splenocyte proliferation indicated strong T cell activation.

  • Th1 and Th2 responses worked together to eliminate S. aureus from the lungs.


Keywords : Staphylococcus, Humoral, Cellular, Immunity, Rat Model

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