Modeling Infection in Neonatal Mice Using Encapsulated Bioluminescent Bacteria

Source: Seman, B. G., et al. A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis. J. Vis. Exp. (2020)The video demonstrates a neonatal mouse model for studying systemic infection using encapsulated bioluminescent bacteria. Neonatal pups are injected with high- or low-dose bacterial suspensions and returned to their mother for postnatal care. The encapsulated bacteria evade early immune detection, spread systemically, and are visualized over time using luminescence imaging. This model enables non-invasive tracking of infection progression in neonatal mice.