Advances in viral respiratory infections: new experimental models

Abstract

The wide array of models available for the study of respiratory viral infections is extremely valuable for the development of novel therapeutic and prophylactic options against these highly prevalent diseases. In addition, through these models we have gathered considerable insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of these infections and the inflammatory and immune responses they elicit in the host. This article reviews new promising models introduced recently in this field.

Figure 1

Paramyxoviridae. A new paramyxovirus closely related to RSV, the human metapneumovirus (hMPV), has been discovered recently and characterized as a frequent cause of infant bronchiolitis.

Figure 2

RSV Prophylaxis. Construction of anti-RSV MAbs by transfer of complementarity determining regions (CDR) from mouse antibody to a human frame (top) and determination of their neutralizing activity in vivo in a cotton rat model of RSV infection (bottom).

Figure 3

Rat model of RSV-induced apnea. Clockwise: (A) virus inoculation in pathogen-free Fischer 344 (F344) rat; (B) jugular venous catheter placement for drug infusion; (C) pharmacological nerve stimulation with capsaicin in an anaesthetized rat placed in whole body plethysmograph and tethered to a swivel mechanism holding the intravascular catheter; (D) plethysmographic measurements of pulmonary function and ventilatory parameters. A representative printout showing apnea evoked by sensorineural stimulation in an RSV-infected rat is shown below.