Impact of Binge Alcohol Intoxication on the Humoral Immune Response during <i>Burkholderia</i> spp. Infections

• Main Authors: Ryan M. Moreno, Victor Jimenez, Fernando P. Monroy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
• Series: Microorganisms
• Subjects: <i>Burkholderia</i>; melioidosis; alcohol; adaptive immune system; antibodies; immunoglobulins; binge alcohol; humoral; virulence
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/5/125

<i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i>, the causative agent of melioidosis can occur in healthy humans, yet binge alcohol use is progressively being recognized as a major risk factor. Currently, no experimental studies have investigated the effects of binge alcohol on the adaptive immune system during an active infection. In this study, we used <i>B. thailandensis</i> and <i>B. vietnamiensis,</i> to investigate the impact of a single binge alcohol episode on the humoral response during infection. Eight-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were administered alcohol comparable to human binge drinking (4.4 g/kg) or PBS intraperitoneally 30 min before intranasal infection. Mice infected with <i>B. thailandensis</i> had a 100% survival rate, while those infected with <i>B. vietnamiensis</i> had a 33% survivability rate when a binge alcohol dose was administered. <i>B. thailandensis</i> was detected in blood of mice administered alcohol at only 7 days post infection (PI), while those infected with <i>B. vietnamiensis</i> and receiving alcohol were found throughout the 28-day infection as well as in tissues at day 28 PI. Binge alcohol elevated IgM and delayed IgG specific to the whole cell lysate (WCL) of <i>B. vietnamiensis</i> but not <i>B. thailandensis</i> infections. Differences in immunogenicity of <i>B. pseudomallei</i> near-neighbors provide a framework for novel insights into the effects of binge alcohol&#8217;s suppression of the humoral immune response that can cause opportunistic infections in otherwise healthy hosts.