Development Of Humanized Mouse Models For Infectious Diseases And Cancer

Over the last several years the field of humanized mice has matured and developed into an essential component of translational research for HIV/AIDS. Humanized mice serve both as vehicles for discovery and as highly sophisticated platforms for biomedical research. In addition, humanized mice have demonstrated outstanding potential for the investigation of critical aspects of the infection and pathogenesis of the hepatitis and herpes viruses, as well as highly relevant microbial infections such as tuberculosis and malaria. Humanized Mice for HIV Research provides a comprehensive presentation of the history, evolution, applications, and current state of the art of this unique animal model. An expansion of twelve review articles that were published in Humanized Mice by Springer in 2008 (Eds: Nomura T, Watanabe T, Habu S), this book expertly captures the outstanding progress that has been made in the development, improvement, implementation, and validation of humanized mouse models. The first two parts of this book cover the basics of human-to-mouse xenotransplantation biology, and provide critical information about human immune cell development and function based on individual models created from different immunodeficient strains of mice. The third and fourth parts investigate HIV-1 biology, including different routes of transmission, prevention, treatment, pathogenesis, and the development of adaptive immunity in humanized mice. The fifth part shows the broad applicability of humanized mice for therapeutic development, from long-acting antiretroviral combinations to genetic manipulations with human cells and cell-based approaches. The sixth part includes liver tissue engineering and the expansion of humanized mice for many other human cell-tropic pathogens.

In this book, Dr. Li and his author team plan to emphasize why mouse models are useful in vivo systems for understanding disease mechanisms and developing therapeutic strategies in blood cancers. The authors do not intend to cover all types of blood cancers; instead, they will focus on some major ones such as leukemias and lymphomas. However, the authors will try to cover as much as they can the cancer types and point out that many blood cancers need to be studied in mouse disease models although they are still not available at present. A major focus in the book will be to show what we can or cannot learn from mouse disease models and to also show the critical contributions of mouse models in therapeutic drug development.

Topic Editor Prof. Aimin Xu receives financial support from Servier Laboratories. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic theme.

In this book, Dr. Li and his author team plan to emphasize why mouse models are useful in vivo systems for understanding disease mechanisms and developing therapeutic strategies in blood cancers. The authors do not intend to cover all types of blood cancers; instead, they will focus on some major ones such as leukemias and lymphomas. However, the authors will try to cover as much as they can the cancer types and point out that many blood cancers need to be studied in mouse disease models although they are still not available at present. A major focus in the book will be to show what we can or cannot learn from mouse disease models and to also show the critical contributions of mouse models in therapeutic drug development.

As the drug discovery process shifts more and more toward specifically targeting pathways and molecules, model systems continue to increase in importance, and the mouse, with its versatility, ease of use, and remarkable similarity to the human genome, has clearly risen to the forefront of animal model studies. In Mouse Models for Drug Discovery: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field present some background for those less familiar with mice as experimental model platforms as well as a collection of techniques involving general methods as well as specific disease topics such as type 1 and 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, skin disorders, cancer, the use of behavioral models for depression and anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases, neuromuscular diseases, and infectious diseases. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easy-to-use, Mouse Models for Drug Discovery: Methods and Protocols will stimulate those not familiar with the power of the mouse and its potential for the drug discovery process, and it will encourage the development of new models and new ways to utilize existing models in order to further the use of this dynamic animal in this vital field.

Humans coexist with millions of harmless microorganisms, but emerging diseases, resistance to antibiotics, and the threat of bioterrorism are forcing scientists to look for new ways to confront the microbes that do pose a danger. This report identifies innovative approaches to the development of antimicrobial drugs and vaccines based on a greater understanding of how the human immune system interacts with both good and bad microbes. The report concludes that the development of a single superdrug to fight all infectious agents is unrealistic.

Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Models: Promise, Potential and Practice offers guidance on how to conduct PDX modeling and trials, including how to know when these models are appropriate for use, and how the data should be interpreted through the selection of immunodeficient strains. In addition, proper methodologies suitable for growing different type of tumors, acquisition of pathology, genomic and other data about the tumor, potential pitfalls, and confounding background pathologies that occur in these models are also included, as is a discussion of the facilities and infrastructure required to operate a PDX laboratory. Offers guidance on data interpretation and regulatory aspects Provides useful techniques and strategies for working with PDX models Includes practical tools and potential pitfalls for best practices Compiles all knowledge of PDX models research in one resource Presents the results of first ever global survey on standards of PDX development and usage in academia and industry