Currently, the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DHF/DSS remain poorly understood and there is no effective vaccine available to prevent infection with DEN virus. The lack of a reliable small animal model that mimics dengue disease is a major obstacle. In this paper, the development of small animal models such as mice for dengue virus infections is reviewed.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus with similarities to unusual subviral pathogens of higher plants. It requires hepatitis B virus (HBV) for its replication/transmission, and HBV-infected humans are the only established host. HDV causes both severe acute hepatitis and rapidly progressive chronic disease in some individuals. The HDV life cycle involves remarkable features, such...

Since the advent of the modern era of antimicrobial chemotherapy in the 1930s, animal infection models have allowed for the in vivo evaluation of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of experimentally induced infection. Today, animal pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) infection models serve as a cornerstone of the preclinical assessment process for antibacterial agents and dose and dosin...

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that now causes epidemics affecting millions of people on multiple continents. The virus has received global attention because of some of its unusual epidemiological and clinical features, including persistent infection in the male reproductive tract and sexual transmission, an ability to cross the placenta during pregnancy and in...

This article reviews animal models currently used for investigation of ascending genital-tract infection in pregnancy. The specific models reviewed are those in the rabbit, monkey, and mouse. These models investigate both the direct effects of bacteria in the setting of ascending infection and the role of cytokines produced by the immune system. For each model, experiments that delineate the pa...

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of Flaviviridae family that has emerged as a pathogen of significant public health importance. The rapid expansion of ZIKV in the South and Central America has recently gained medical attention emphasizing the capacity of ZIKV to spread to non-endemic regions. ZIKV infection during pregnancy has been demonstrated to cause microcephaly and other fetal developmental ...

Implant related infection following spine surgery is a devastating complication for patients and can potentially lead to significant neurological compromise, disability, morbidity, and even mortality. This paper provides an overview of the existing animal models of postoperative spine infection and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each model. In addition, there is discussion regarding...

Animal models of fungal infections are, and will remain, a key tool in the advancement of the medical mycology. Many different types of animal models of fungal infection have been developed, with murine models the most frequently used, for studies of pathogenesis, virulence, immunology, diagnosis, and therapy. The ability to control numerous variables in performing the model allows us to mimic ...