Chapter 30 - Animal Models for Infectious Disease Vaccine Development

Abstract

A critical consideration during nonclinical development of investigational vaccines for infectious diseases is the selection of an appropriate animal model. There is no universal animal model available for the evaluation of infectious diseases or the development of vaccines. Instead, the most appropriate animal model needs to be identified in order to meaningfully study pathophysiology and immunology of infectious disease and develop an effective vaccine. Successful interpretation of animal studies depends on understanding the similarities and differences in the immunogenic and pathophysiologic responses of the animal model to the infectious agent and vaccine, compared to humans. Choosing the most appropriate animal model is critical to guide the clinical trial design for the development of a vaccine. This chapter serves as a brief but thorough reference on established animal models for major infectious diseases and their applicability for vaccine research. At the end of this chapter, table six lists the animal models and the references for each infectious disease.