Mice, microbes and models of infection

Nat Rev Genet. 2003 Mar;4(3):195-205. doi: 10.1038/nrg1019.

Abstract

We urgently need animal models to study infectious disease. Mice are susceptible to a similar range of microbial infections as humans. Marked differences between inbred strains of mice in their response to pathogen infection can be exploited to analyse the genetic basis of infections. In addition, the genetic tools that are available in the laboratory mouse, and new techniques to monitor the expression of bacterial genes in vivo, make it the principal experimental animal model for studying mechanisms of infection and immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Infections / etiology
  • Bacterial Infections / genetics
  • Bacterial Infections / immunology
  • Cation Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Communicable Diseases / etiology*
  • Communicable Diseases / genetics*
  • Communicable Diseases / immunology
  • Cytokines / deficiency
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Genetic Testing
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptors

Substances

  • Cation Transport Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Naip1 protein, mouse
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1