Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
Modeling Dysplastic and Functional Lung Alveolar Repair after Influenza Infection
Published on: September 19, 2025
Proportional mouse model for aerosol infection by influenza
R S McDonald1, A R Sambol, B K Heimbuch
1Applied Research Associates, Inc, Panama City, FL, USA.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to demonstrate a prototype tool for measuring infectivity of an aerosolized human pathogen - influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus - using a small-animal model in the Controlled Aerosol Test System (CATS).
Methods And Results:
Intranasal inoculation of nonadapted H1N1 virus into C57BL, BALB/c and CD-1 mice caused infection in all three species. Respiratory exposure of CD-1 mice to the aerosolized virus at graduated doses was accomplished in a modified rodent exposure apparatus. Weight change was recorded for 7 days postexposure, and viral populations in lung tissue homogenates were measured post mortem by DNA amplification (qRT-PCR), direct fluorescence and microscopic evaluation of cytopathic effect. Plots of weight change and of PCR cycle threshold vs delivered dose were linear to threshold doses of ~40 TCID(50) and ~12 TCID(50) , respectively.
Conclusions:
MID(50) for inspired H1N1 aerosols in CD-1 mice is between 12 and 40 TCID(50) ; proportionality to dose of weight loss and viral populations makes the CD-1 mouse a useful model for measuring infectivity by inhalation.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
In the CATS, this mouse-virus model provides the first quantitative method to evaluate the ability of respiratory protective technologies to attenuate the infectivity of an inspired pathogenic aerosol.
