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Review
. 2019 Mar 13;11(3):252.
doi: 10.3390/v11030252.

Recent Updates on Mouse Models for Human Immunodeficiency, Influenza, and Dengue Viral Infections

Vinodhini Krishnakumar  1 , Siva Sundara Kumar Durairajan  2 , Kalichamy Alagarasu  3 , Min Li  4 , Aditya Prasad Dash  5
Affiliations
Review

Recent Updates on Mouse Models for Human Immunodeficiency, Influenza, and Dengue Viral Infections

Vinodhini Krishnakumar et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Well-developed mouse models are important for understanding the pathogenesis and progression of immunological response to viral infections in humans. Moreover, to test vaccines, anti-viral drugs and therapeutic agents, mouse models are fundamental for preclinical investigations. Human viruses, however, seldom infect mice due to differences in the cellular receptors used by the viruses for entry, as well as in the innate immune responses in mice and humans. In other words, a species barrier exists when using mouse models for investigating human viral infections. Developing transgenic (Tg) mice models expressing the human genes coding for viral entry receptors and knock-out (KO) mice models devoid of components involved in the innate immune response have, to some extent, overcome this barrier. Humanized mouse models are a third approach, developed by engrafting functional human cells and tissues into immunodeficient mice. They are becoming indispensable for analyzing human viral diseases since they nearly recapitulate the human disease. These mouse models also serve to test the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral agents. This review provides an update on the Tg, KO, and humanized mouse models that are used in studies investigating the pathogenesis of three important human-specific viruses, namely human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus 1, influenza, and dengue.

Keywords: HIV; dengue; human viruses; humanized mice; infectious diseases; influenza; knockout mice; mouse models; transgenic mice.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Humanized mouse model represents the engraftment of human cells and tissues into immunodeficient mice. Humanized mouse model representing infection with HIV, FLU, or DENV.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Generation of transgenic (Tg) mice and knock out (KO) mice. The embryonic stem cells (ES) with inserted or disturbed specific gene of interest are microinjected into the mouse blastocyst, which allows the development of a new Tg or KO progeny.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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