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Updated: May 25, 2025
Influenza A Virus Studies in a Mouse Model of Infection
Published on: September 7, 2017
Effect of Inoculation Volume on a Mouse Model of Influenza Virus Infected with the Same Viral Load
Yali Sun1,2, Yuwei Wei2, Xuelian Han2
1Public Health School, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China.
Background:
Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease that poses significant health and economic burdens. Mice are commonly used as animal models for studying influenza virus pathogenesis and the development of vaccines and drugs. However, the viral volume used for nasal inoculation varies substantially in reported mouse influenza infection models, and the appropriate viral dose is crucial for reproducing experimental results.
Methods:
Mice were inoculated with mouse lung-adapted strains of influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) via intranasal administration of 10 μL, 20 μL, and 40 μL at doses of 200 plaque-forming units (PFU) and 2000 PFU. This study investigated the impact of varying viral inoculum volumes on murine outcomes at identical doses and assessed the disparities across diverse dosage levels.
Results:
Regarding weight change trajectories, mortalities, lung tissue viral titers, and pathological manifestations, the group that received the 40 μL inoculation volume within the low-dose infection mice (200 PFU) manifested a statistically significant divergence from those inoculated with both the 10 μL and 20 μL volumes. Within the context of high-dose infections (2000 PFU), groups that received inoculation volumes of 20 μL and 40 μL exhibited marked disparities when compared to those receiving the 10 μL volume.
Conclusions:
Disparities in inoculation volume, even under uniform infection dosages, engender differential outcomes in pathogenicity. Of particular note, the viral replication efficacy at a 20 μL inoculation volume demonstrates conspicuous fluctuations across diverse infection dose regimens.
Insights
Varying influenza virus inoculation volumes in mice significantly impact infection outcomes, including mortality and viral replication. Optimizing inoculum volume is critical for reproducible influenza research in animal models.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Influenza poses significant health and economic burdens globally.
- Mice are essential animal models for influenza research, vaccine development, and drug discovery.
- Inconsistent viral inoculum volumes in mouse models hinder experimental reproducibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of varying intranasal inoculation volumes on influenza virus infection outcomes in mice.
- To assess how different viral inoculum volumes affect pathogenicity and viral replication at distinct infection doses.
Main Methods:
- Mice were intranasally inoculated with influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) at 200 and 2000 plaque-forming units (PFU).
- Inoculum volumes tested were 10 μL, 20 μL, and 40 μL.
- Outcomes measured included weight change, mortality, lung viral titers, and histopathological changes.
Main Results:
- A 40 μL inoculum volume at a low dose (200 PFU) significantly altered outcomes compared to 10 μL and 20 μL.
- At a high dose (2000 PFU), 20 μL and 40 μL volumes showed significant differences from the 10 μL volume.
- Weight loss, mortality, viral titers, and lung pathology were affected by inoculum volume.
Conclusions:
- Inoculum volume significantly influences influenza pathogenicity and experimental results, even at identical viral doses.
- A 20 μL inoculum volume showed variable viral replication efficacy across different infection doses.
- Standardizing inoculum volume is crucial for reliable and reproducible influenza mouse models.
