
Full text loading...
Category: Clinical Microbiology; Fungi and Fungal Pathogenesis
Cryptococcosis in Experimental Animals: Lessons Learned, Page 1 of 2
< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555816858/9781555815011_Chap35-1.gif /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555816858/9781555815011_Chap35-2.gifAbstract:
This chapter presents salient examples in the use and performance of animal models of cryptococcal infection, particularly murine and rabbit models, and demonstrate how these models in conjunction with the application of emerging technologies have advanced our knowledge about this disease. In the current era of increasingly more stringent regulations on the use of laboratory animals, it is no longer acceptable to most Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees for the investigator to allow the experimental animals to die of infection. Mice are the most frequently used species for cryptococcal models and can be infected by one of several routes. Intraperitoneal infection using 105 to 107 yeast cells is technically easy to master, and many mice can be infected quickly. Human cryptococcosis is acquired via inhalation, and thus, pulmonary models of infection are better mimics of the natural disease progression. The use of rabbits in models of fungal infection has been much more limited than the use of rodents. Prevention of infection is even more desirable, and vaccine studies in animal models have been done in the field of cryptococcosis.
Full text loading...