We explored how iron influences food poisoning, particularly in the context of campylobacteriosis, a common foodborne illness. Our focus was on the effects of deferoxamine (DESF), an iron-chelating compound, when administered orally to mice before they were infected.
In our study, we included microbiota-depleted IL-10 mice that received DESF through their drinking water starting a week ahead of being exposed to the Campylobacter strain known as 81-176. While we did not observe any significant reduction in the levels of the bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, we did identify some noteworthy improvements in the overall health status of the infected mice by the sixth day post-infection.
These findings suggested that DESF treatment seemed to alleviate the disease's impact, manifesting as reduced cell death in the colon, lower numbers of immune cells like neutrophils accumulating in the large intestines, and decreased levels of inflammatory markers, including IFN-γ and MCP-1, in both the intestines and systemically.
Overall, our research illustrates the potential for iron-targeting strategies to positively affect the progression and severity of campylobacteriosis, offering a new outlook for treatment approaches when conventional antibiotic methods are not recommended.
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