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

A third strategy to enhance pathogen survival in mice has been to add human-derived cells required for survival and growth [33] . NSG mice have the unique ability to support several different xenografts including human hematopoietic stem cells (CD34 + stem cells) that allow for the development of an immature partially-functional human immune system [25, 27, 30, 34] . NOD.Cg-Prkdc scid Il2rg tm1Wjl Tg (CMV-IL3, CSF2, KITLG)1Eav/MloySzJ (SGM) mice have an additional three human genes IL3, CSF2, and KITLG under the CMV promoter to enhance the overall microenvironment for the development of human xenografts. This results in increased numbers of CD33 + myeloid cells, B-cells, T-cells, and hematopoietic stem cells [35] . Humanized BLT mice are NSG mice that received a xenograft of human CD34 + stem cells and a transplant of human fetal thymus and liver implanted under the kidney capsule, which results in the formation of a "human immune organ" [36] .