Abstract
Viral infection is a global public health threat causing millions of deaths. A suitable small animal model is essential for viral pathogenesis and host response studies that could be used in antiviral and vaccine development. The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri or Tupaia belangeri chinenesis), a squirrel-like non-primate small mammal in the Tupaiidae family, has been reported to be susceptible to important human viral pathogens, including hepatitis viruses (e.g., HBV, HCV), respiratory viruses (influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, human adenovirus B), arboviruses (Zika virus and dengue virus), and other viruses (e.g., herpes simplex virus, etc.). The pathogenesis of these viruses is not fully understood due to the lack of an economically feasible suitable small animal model mimicking natural infection of human diseases. The tree shrew model significantly contributes towards a better understanding of the infection and pathogenesis of these important human pathogens, highlighting its potential to be used as a viable viral infection model of human viruses. Therefore, in this review, we summarize updates regarding human viral infection in the tree shrew model, which highlights the potential of the tree shrew to be utilized for human viral infection and pathogenesis studies.
Highlights
The term “tree shrew” or “Tupaia” refers to Tupaia belangeri or T. belangeri chinensis (Chinese tree shrew); it belongs to the order Scandentia, which splits into two families, Ptilocercidae and Tupaiidae [1]
The overall findings of the study demonstrated the tree shrew as a permissive animal model for studying Human Adenoviruses (HAdVs)-B infection which may be useful for antiviral testing
The development of animal models is essential for studying the pathogenesis of viral infections, as well as for evaluating the efficacy of drugs and vaccines
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Animal models mimicking human diseases are invaluable tools to study viral infection and pathogenesis, as well as for the development of prophylactic and/or therapeutic interventions. The tree shrew has been used for viral infections, and its use in human viral infections is increasing; the tree shrew emerges as a potential small animal model in advancing the knowledge of viral pathogenesis and diseases [3,15]. The tree shrew has unique characteristics that render it a potentially advantageous animal model, including small body size, short reproductive cycle and life span, easy handling, low maintenance cost, and genetic closeness to primates. The tree shrew appears as a promising animal model, its extensive use is limited by the availability of tree shrew-specific reagents, individual variability, etc. We provide an update on the tree shrew viral infection model for human-infecting viruses (Table 1), including HBV, HCV, influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2, HAdV, ZIKV, and DENV infection and pathogenesis, which will enhance our understanding
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