Development of Onchocerca volvulus in humanized NSG mice and detection of parasite biomarkers in urine and serum

Patton, John B.; Bennuru, Sasisekhar; Eberhard, Mark L.; Hess, Jessica A.; Torigian, April; Lustigman, Sara; Nutman, Thomas B.; Abraham, David

As an alternative approach to overcome murine resistance to infection, mice have been developed with greatly diminished immune responses. SCID mice were shown to be susceptible to infection with Brugia malayi while immunocompetent mice were resistant to the infection [24] . NOD.Cg-Prkdc scid Il2rg tm1Wjl /SzJ (NSG) mice are a highly immune-compromised strain of mice that have profound defects in the adaptive and innate immune responses [25] . The most notable defects include those in: 1) macrophages, dendritic cells and in the complement cascade [26] [27] [28] ; 2) maturation of T and B cells [29] ; 3) NK cells; 4) signaling of 6 different cytokines [30] and 5) the presence of eosinophils in the peripheral circulation and in tissue [31] . NOD-Rag1 tm1Mom IL2rg tm1Wjl mice (NRG) are phenotypically similar to NSG mice with disruption in the B and T-Cell production [32] . Interestingly, NSG mice can support the complete lifecycle of the human nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, whereas immunologically intact mice cannot [31] .