Mice with human immune system components as in vivo models for infections with human pathogens

Abstract

Many pathogens relevant to human disease do not infect other animal species. Therefore, animal models that reconstitute or harbor human tissues are explored as hosts for these. In this review, we will summarize recent advances to utilize mice with human immune system components, reconstituted from hematopoietic progenitor cells in vivo. Such mice can be used to study human pathogens that replicate in leukocytes. In addition to studying the replication of these pathogens, the reconstituted human immune system components can also be analyzed for initiating immune responses and control against these infections. Moreover, these new animal models of human infectious disease should replicate the reactivity of the human immune system to vaccine candidates and, especially, the adjuvants contained in them, more faithfully.

Figure 1. Main application areas for mice with reconstituted human immune system components

NOD-scid γ_c^-/- (NSG or NOG), NOD-scid with human fetal liver and thymus organoid (BLT) and BALB/c Rag2^-/- γ_c^-/- mice with human immune system components, reconstituted from CD34⁺ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) can be used to study human pathogen infection and immune control, vaccination with a special emphasis of adjuvant development for the human immune system, human hematopoiesis and therapeutic interventions against human pathogens and malignancies.