Humanized mice in infectious diseases.
The pathogenesis of infectious agents with human tropism can only be properly studied in an in vivo model featuring human cells or tissue. Humanized mice represent a small animal model featuring human cells or tissue that can be infected by human-specific viruses, bacteria, and parasites and also providing a functional human immune system. This makes the analysis of a human immune response to infection possible and allows for preclinical testing of new vaccines and therapeutic agents. Results of various studies using humanized mice to investigate pathogens with human tropism are presented in this review. In addition, the limitations of humanized mice and methods to improve this valuable animal model are discussed.
['Ernst|W|W|']
D000818:Animals D001424:Bacterial Infections D004195:Disease Models, Animal D006801:Humans D051379:Mice D010272:Parasitic Diseases D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal D014777:Virus Diseases
Humanized mice Infectious diseases Review Human specific pathogens