Murine Models for Development of Anti-Infective Therapeutics

Abstract

The key to the medicine chest of the society is in the active discovery of new anti-infective therapeutics. The process of development of novel anti-infective therapeutics involves in vitro studies on the anti-infective agent and its properties along with in silico study of its interaction with binding sites. There is however lacunae, as in vitro and in silico studies alone are insufficient to validate the use of an anti-infective agent in human subjects. In vivo studies are imperative to analyze the mechanism of action and the other possible interactions that can take place when the drug enters a mammalian system. The use of murine models (mice and rats) as model organisms to study an infectious disease and possible drug molecules that can be effective as a prophylactic or as a treatment for cure has aided in the development of anti-infective agents. Murine models have increased understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and have facilitated a better understanding of the mechanism of protective action exerted by the drug molecules on the host organism. This chapter discusses briefly the mouse models and rat models that are in use. It also elaborates on specific bacterial, fungal, viral, protozoal, and helminth diseases modeled in mouse and rat models for testing the efficacy of a particular drug molecule under study.