Date of Completion

Spring 5-1-2026

Thesis Advisor(s)

Elsio A. Wunder

Honors Major

Molecular and Cell Biology

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease with global distribution caused by infection with pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Bacterial adherence to host cells is considered a crucial step in leptospiral infection and dissemination. However, the role of host-specific cellular interactions in disease outcome remains poorly understood. In this study, the adherence of pathogenic Leptospira interrogans serovar Manilae strain L495 and saprophytic Leptospira biflexa serovar Patoc I to kidney epithelial cell lines was investigated. The differing cell lines modeled reservoir, subclinical and acute disease hosts. Infection of rat kidney (RK3E), mouse kidney (TCMK-1), and hamster kidney cells (HaK) were evaluated by immunofluorescent microscopy. Pathogenic Manilae adhered considerably more than saprophytic Patoc in all cell types. HaK cells exhibited an overall similar trend with increased experimental variability. Despite considerable variations in disease outcome between the host species, no statistically significant differences in pathogenic adherence were observed between the three cell types. Additional unpublished translocation data revealed that pathogenic leptospires were able to penetrate RK3E cell monolayers more effectively than TCMK-1 and HaK cell monolayers. This suggests that host-pathogen interactions downstream of initial attachment may have a greater impact on dissemination and disease outcomes. Collectively, these results suggest that while adherence is likely essential for pathogenicity, host-specific disease severity might depend more on post-attachment interactions such as tissue penetration and dissemination.

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