Protocol for monitoring Yersinia pestis colonization of the proventriculus in the flea Xenopsylla cheopis using microscopy
Colonization of the flea proventriculus is essential for increasing the likelihood of Yersinia pestis transmission. Here, we present a protocol for visualizing Y. pestis colonization dynamics within the proventriculus of the flea Xenopsylla cheopis. We describe steps for quantifying the number of infected proventriculi, the percentage of the surface colonized by bacteria, and an estimation of the bacterial load. These metrics provide a tool for assessing the role of bacterial genes in establishing a transmissible infection. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Dewitte et al.<sup>1</sup>.
Authors
- Elisabeth Werkmeister (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6253-7503)
- Amélie Dewitte
- Florent Sebbane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3811-9691)
- Sébastien Bontemps-Gallo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1834-5416)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Institut Pasteur de Lille (FR)
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille (FR)
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- STAR Protocols
- Published
- 2025-05-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2025.103853
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.82
Funders
- Université de Lille
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Institute Pasteur De Lille
- European Research Council