Pathogens

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11 pages, 4656 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Establishment of an Animal Model Scheme of Strongyloides stercoralis-Infected Meriones meridianus

by Huan Zhou, Jinyang Hu, Taoxun Zhou, Ying Zhang, Peixi Qin, Biying Zhang, Rui Wang, Xiaoping Luo and Min Hu

Pathogens 2023, 12(11), 1285; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12111285 - 26 Oct 2023

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Abstract

Studying parasitic nematodes, which generate a massive hazard to animal health, is more difficult than studying free-living nematodes as appropriate animal models are essential, and the relationship between parasites and hosts is extremely complex. Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode parasite that mainly [...] Read more.

Studying parasitic nematodes, which generate a massive hazard to animal health, is more difficult than studying free-living nematodes as appropriate animal models are essential, and the relationship between parasites and hosts is extremely complex. Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode parasite that mainly infects dogs, humans and other primates. Currently, S. stercoralis worms needed for research mainly rely on their natural host, the dog. This study explored a method of using Meriones meridianus as a model for S. stercoralis. The immunosuppressed M. meridianus were infected with S. stercoralis subcutaneously, and post-parasitic, first-stage larvae (PP L1) were detected in the faeces, with more larvae in female gerbils. In addition, parasitic females (PFs), third-stage larvae (L3s) and rhabditiform larvae were found primarily in the small intestines and lungs of infected gerbils. The PFs and auto-infective third-stage larvae (aL3s) obtained from M. meridianus are morphologically identical to those obtained from beagles and Meriones unguiculatus. Moreover, the infection of S. stercoralis caused changes to biochemical indicators in the serum and in the physiology of M. meridianus. The results demonstrated that M. meridianus can be infected by S. stercoralis, and this model provides a great tool for exploring the biological processes of this parasite and its interaction with the host. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Models of Infectious Disease-2nd Volume)

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14 pages, 1303 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Biologically Relevant Murine Models of Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Respiratory Infection

by Aoife M. Rodgers, Jaime Lindsay, Avril Monahan, Alice V. Dubois, Aduragbemi A. Faniyi, Barry J. Plant, Marcus A. Mall, Miquel B. Ekkelenkamp, Stuart Elborn and Rebecca J. Ingram

Pathogens 2023, 12(8), 1053; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12081053 - 17 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1518

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an opportunistic pathogen and the leading cause of infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The ability of P. aeruginosa to evade host responses and develop into chronic infection causes significant morbidity and mortality. Several mouse models have [...] Read more.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an opportunistic pathogen and the leading cause of infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The ability of P. aeruginosa to evade host responses and develop into chronic infection causes significant morbidity and mortality. Several mouse models have been developed to study chronic respiratory infections induced by P. aeruginosa, with the bead agar model being the most widely used. However, this model has several limitations, including the requirement for surgical procedures and high mortality rates. Herein, we describe novel and adapted biologically relevant models of chronic lung infection caused by P. aeruginosa. Three methods are described: a clinical isolate infection model, utilising isolates obtained from patients with CF; an incomplete antibiotic clearance model, leading to bacterial bounce-back; and the establishment of chronic infection; and an adapted water bottle chronic infection model. These models circumvent the requirement for a surgical procedure and, importantly, can be induced with clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and in wild-type mice. We also demonstrate successful induction of chronic infection in the transgenic βENaC murine model of CF. We envisage that the models described will facilitate the investigations of host and microbial factors, and the efficacy of novel antimicrobials, during chronic P. aeruginosa respiratory infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Models of Infectious Disease-2nd Volume)

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17 pages, 3976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monodelphis domestica as a Fetal Intra-Cerebral Inoculation Model for Zika Virus Pathogenesis

by John Thomas, Juan Garcia, Matthew Terry, Susan Mahaney, Oscar Quintanilla, Dionn Carlo Silva, Marisol Morales and John L VandeBerg

Pathogens 2023, 12(5), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12050733 - 19 May 2023

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Abstract

Monodelphis domestica (the laboratory opossum) is a marsupial native to South America. At birth, these animals are developmentally equivalent to human embryos at approximately 5 weeks of gestation, which, when coupled with other characteristics including the size of the animals, the development of [...] Read more.

Monodelphis domestica (the laboratory opossum) is a marsupial native to South America. At birth, these animals are developmentally equivalent to human embryos at approximately 5 weeks of gestation, which, when coupled with other characteristics including the size of the animals, the development of a robust immune system during juvenile development, and the relative ease of experimental manipulation, have made M. domestica a valuable model in many areas of biomedical research. However, their suitability as models for infectious diseases, especially neurotropic viruses such as Zika virus (ZIKV), is currently unknown. Here, we describe the replicative effects of ZIKV using a fetal intra-cerebral model of inoculation. Using immunohistology and in situ hybridization, we found that opossum embryos and fetuses are susceptible to infection by ZIKV administered intra-cerebrally, that the infection persists, and that viral replication results in neural pathology and may occasionally result in global growth restriction. These results demonstrate the utility of M. domestica as a new animal model for investigating ZIKV infection in vivo and facilitate further inquiry into viral pathogenesis, particularly for those viruses that are neurotropic, that require a host with the ability to sustain sustained viremia, and/or that may require intra-cerebral inoculations of large numbers of embryos or fetuses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Models of Infectious Disease-2nd Volume)

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