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Breaking the species barrier: use of SCID mouse-human chimeras for the study of human infectious diseases
Paul H Davis1, Samuel L Stanley
1Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8051, 660 S Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Abstract:
Mouse-human chimeras have become a novel way to model the interactions between microbial pathogens and human cells, tissues or organs. Diseases studied with human xenografts in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice include Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis, group A streptococci and impetigo, bacillary and amoebic dysentery, and AIDS. In many cases, disease in the human xenograft appears to accurately reproduce the disease in humans, providing a powerful model for identifying virulence factors, host responses to infection and the effects of specific interventions on disease. In this review, we summarize recent studies that have used mouse-human chimeras to understand the pathophysiology of specific bacterial and protozoan infections.
Insights
Mouse-human chimeras offer a novel model for studying infectious diseases. These human xenografts in mice accurately replicate human infections, aiding research into pathogens and treatments.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Infectious Disease Modeling
Background:
- Mouse-human chimeras are emerging as valuable tools for studying host-pathogen interactions.
- Human xenografts in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice enable modeling of various human diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies utilizing mouse-human chimeras for understanding infectious disease pathophysiology.
- To highlight the utility of these models in studying bacterial and protozoan infections.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice engrafted with human cells, tissues, or organs.
- Employing these mouse-human chimeras to model specific human infectious diseases.
- Analyzing disease progression and host responses within the xenograft model.
Main Results:
- Human xenografts in SCID mice accurately reproduce human disease characteristics.
- These models facilitate the identification of microbial virulence factors.
- They aid in understanding host responses to infection and evaluating therapeutic interventions.
Conclusions:
- Mouse-human chimeras provide a powerful platform for preclinical research in infectious diseases.
- These models are instrumental in advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and developing new treatments.
- The review summarizes key findings from studies using these advanced xenograft models.
