A Murine Model of falciparum-Malaria by In Vivo Selection of Competent Strains in Non-Myelodepleted Mice Engrafted with Human Erythrocytes

2008

A New Mouse Model for Studying Malaria

Sample size: 88 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Angulo-Barturen Iñigo, Jiménez-Díaz María Belén, Mulet Teresa, Rullas Joaquín, Herreros Esperanza, Ferrer Santiago, Jiménez Elena, Mendoza Alfonso, Regadera Javier, Rosenthal Philip J., Bathurst Ian, Pompliano David L., Gómez de las Heras Federico, Gargallo-Viola Domingo

Primary Institution: Diseases of the Developing World, Infectious Diseases-Centre for Excellence in Drug Discovery (ID CEDD), GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain

Hypothesis

Laboratory or clinical strains of P. falciparum should contain clones able to survive and be expanded in vivo in non-myelodepleted humanized mice.

Conclusion

The study successfully developed a reliable murine model of P. falciparum malaria that can be used for drug discovery.

Supporting Evidence

P. falciparum was able to grow in the blood of humanized mice without using toxic treatments.
The model showed a high rate of successful infections with the selected strains.
Parasite density in peripheral blood was a key driver of the model dynamics.
The study established a standardized assay for antimalarial drug testing.
Chloroquine, pyrimethamine, and artesunate were effective in the new model.
All stages of the parasite were observable in the model except gametocytes.
The model allows for the evaluation of drug exposure and therapeutic efficacy.

Takeaway

Researchers created a new type of mouse that can get malaria like humans do, which helps in finding new medicines.

Methodology

The study involved infecting NODscid/β2m−/− mice engrafted with human erythrocytes with P. falciparum and assessing the infection dynamics and drug efficacy.