Standardization of an experimental murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Invasive aspergillosis is a serious fungal infection, particularly in immunocompromised patients.
• Development of new therapeutic agents requires reliable and reproducible preclinical animal models.
• Previous models for invasive aspergillosis have shown variability, hindering drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the inter- and intra-laboratory reproducibility of a murine model of invasive aspergillosis.
• To validate the model's suitability for evaluating the efficacy of antifungal agents, specifically liposomal amphotericin B.

Main Methods:

• A murine model of invasive aspergillosis was established via aerosolized Aspergillus fumigatus.
• The model was evaluated in two independent laboratories.
• Key outcomes measured included survival rates, fungal burden over time, and response to liposomal amphotericin B treatment.

Main Results:

• High levels of intra-laboratory reproducibility were observed for survival, fungal burden, and treatment efficacy.
• High levels of inter-laboratory reproducibility were also demonstrated across both participating labs.
• The efficacy of liposomal amphotericin B was consistently evaluated in the model.

Conclusions:

• The murine model of aerosol infection is a reproducible system for evaluating invasive aspergillosis.
• This model's reproducibility supports its use in preclinical studies for new antifungal therapies.
• Consistent results across laboratories enhance confidence in drug efficacy findings.