Integrating fish models in tuberculosis vaccine development.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infection by that results in over 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year. Currently, there is only one vaccine against tuberculosis, the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine.

DNA vaccination with the Mycobacterium marinum MMAR_4110 antigen inhibits reactivation of a latent mycobacterial infection in the adult Zebrafish.

Background: Tuberculosis is a major challenge for health care, as options for its treatment and prevention are limited. Therefore, novel approaches, such as DNA vaccination, to both prevent primary infections and the reactivation of latent infections need to be developed. A Mycobacterium marinum infection in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) recapitulates features of the human Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, providing a convenient preclinical animal model for studying tuberculosis.

Immunization of Adult Zebrafish for the Preclinical Screening of DNA-based Vaccines.

The interest in DNA-based vaccination has increased during the past two decades. DNA vaccination is based on the cloning of a sequence of a selected antigen or a combination of antigens into a plasmid, which enables a tailor-made and safe design. The administration of DNA vaccines into host cells leads to the expression of antigens that stimulate both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.

Identification of protective postexposure mycobacterial vaccine antigens using an immunosuppression-based reactivation model in the zebrafish.

Roughly one third of the human population carries a latent infection, with a 5-10% lifetime risk of reactivation to active tuberculosis and further spreading the disease. The mechanisms leading to the reactivation of a latent infection are insufficiently understood. Here, we used a natural fish pathogen, , to model the reactivation of a mycobacterial infection in the adult zebrafish ().

Identification of novel antigen candidates for a tuberculosis vaccine in the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge and the development of a better vaccine takes center stage in fighting the disease. For this purpose, animal models that are capable of replicating the course of the disease and are suitable for the early-stage screening of vaccine candidates are needed. A Mycobacterium marinum infection in adult zebrafish resembles human TB.

Animal models in tuberculosis research - where is the beef?

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health problem, and new drugs and vaccines are urgently needed. As clinical trials in humans require tremendous resources, preclinical drug and vaccine development largely relies on valid animal models that recapitulate the pathology of human disease and the immune responses of the host as closely as possible.

Areas Covered: This review describes the animal models used in TB research, the most widely used being mice, guinea pigs and nonhuman primates.