Perspective on Animal Models: Chronic Intracellular Infections

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 33; no. Supplement-3; pp. S221 - S226
• Main Authors: Young, Lowell S., Bermudez, Luiz E.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 15.09.2001; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: AIDS; Animal infectious diseases; Animal models; Animals; Antitubercular Agents - pharmacology; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic Disease; Disease models; Disease Models, Animal; General aspects; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Mefloquine - pharmacology; Mefloquine - therapeutic use; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium avium; Mycobacterium avium complex; Mycobacterium avium Complex - drug effects; Mycobacterium avium Complex - immunology; Mycobacterium avium Complex - pathogenicity; Mycobacterium avium Complex - physiology; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - drug therapy; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - prevention & control; Predictive Value of Tests; Test systems; Cell culture; Animal model; Chemoprophylaxis; Pathogenesis; Mycobacterium avium; Mycobacterial infection; Mycobacterium intracellulare; Infection; Chemotherapy; Experimental disease; Treatment; Mycobacteriales; Animal; Bacteriosis; Mycobacteriaceae; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Infected cell; Antibacterial agent; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/321851

Systemic human disease caused by organisms of the Mycobacterium avium–Mycobacterium intracellulare complex (MAC) represent a chronic intracellular infection in human hosts who are usually immunocompromised. To develop improved treatment and prophylaxis, and to obtain a better understanding of pathogenesis, we studied the beige mouse (C57 beige+/beige+) challenged orally or intravenously with a human isolate that causes lethal disease in patients with AIDS (MAC 101, serovar 1). Encouraging anti-MAC studies in animals, as reviewed here, should provide the basis for considering human trials with a promising agent. The ability of an antimicrobial agent to achieve high intracellular concentrations has correlated with the in vivo activity of several specific compounds.