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Protocols for Vaginal Inoculation and Sample Collection in the Experimental Mouse Model of Candida vaginitis
Published on: December 8, 2011
Animal models of candidiasis
Cornelius J Clancy1, Shaoji Cheng, Minh Hong Nguyen
1University of Florida College of Medicine and North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainsville, FL, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|January 20, 2009
Summary
Murine models are essential for studying Candida albicans pathogenesis. This chapter details two key models: disseminated candidiasis and oral/esophageal candidiasis, vital for virulence and antifungal research.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Animal Models
Background:
- Animal models are crucial for understanding candidiasis pathogenesis.
- Murine models are favored for candidiasis research due to cost, handling, and feasibility.
- Candida albicans is a significant opportunistic fungal pathogen causing various infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe established murine models for studying Candida albicans pathogenesis.
- To provide detailed methods for disseminated candidiasis and oral/esophageal candidiasis models.
- To highlight the utility of these models for virulence studies and antifungal research.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous injection of C. albicans into immunocompetent mice for disseminated candidiasis (DC) model.
- Assessment of mortality, tissue burden, and histopathology in the DC model.
- Oral inoculation of immunosuppressed mice with C. albicans for oral/esophageal candidiasis model, with endpoints on tissue burden and histopathology.
Main Results:
- The described murine models allow for quantitative assessment of C. albicans infection.
- Disseminated candidiasis model endpoints include mortality and fungal burden in kidneys, spleen, and liver.
- Oral/esophageal candidiasis model endpoints focus on fungal burden and histopathology in relevant tissues.
Conclusions:
- Established murine models provide robust platforms for investigating C. albicans pathogenesis and virulence.
- These models are adaptable for studying gene expression, host immunity, and evaluating antifungal therapies, vaccines, and immunomodulatory strategies.
- The described methodologies facilitate comparative studies of C. albicans strains and the development of novel therapeutic interventions.
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