Developing insect models for the study of current and emerging human pathogens

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters Vol. 263; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Scully, Lisa R., Bidochka, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2006; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteriological methods and techniques used in bacteriology; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Communicable Diseases, Emerging - immunology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging - microbiology; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Reservoirs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; host jumping; Humans; immunity; insect pathogenesis; Insecta; Insecta - immunology; Insecta - microbiology; Invertebrates; Microbiology; model host; Models, Animal; Mycological methods and techniques used in mycology; Mycology; Opportunistic Infections - immunology; Opportunistic Infections - microbiology; pathogen evolution; pathogen virulence; Pathology; Virulence; Zoonoses; Human; insect pathogenesis; model host; Pathogenesis; Biological evolution; Insecta; Virulence; pathogen evolution; Reservoir; Host; pathogen virulence; Immunity; Fungi; Arthropoda; host jumping; Bacteria; Models; Invertebrata; Jumping; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00388.x

The study of human diseases requires the testing of microorganisms in model systems. Although mammals are typically used, we argue the validity of using insects as models in order to examine human diseases, particularly the growing number of opportunistic microorganisms. Insects can be used in large...