Introduction
The Platform for Animal Experimentation Models arises from the need to
provide the RICET with existing animal models of tropical and neglected diseases, some of which have been developed by Network researchers and are crucial for the development of vaccines and new therapies, along with studies addressing pathogeny, parasite-host interaction and immune intervention.
This platform is based at 2 sub-sites, one at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Centre at the Autonomous University of Madrid (CBM-UAM) and the other at the López-Neyra Parasitology and Biomedicine Institute in Granada (IPBLN). The two envisage different yet complementary tecnologies and models.
The CBM-UAM site has a panel of strains of mice genetically deficient for IL-4, IL-10 TNF, and IFN-gamma, TLR, SLAM, cycloxigenase-2, iNOS and various galectin receptors, etc. The IPBLN site has: different C67BL/6 transgenic mice, such as the C57BL/6-TG-A2Kb strain (which express the chimeric product HLA-A2.1/Kb, where domains a1 and a2 correspond to the human HLA-A2.1 class 1 molecule, and domains a3, transmembrane and cytoplasmic are murine); FAS ligand-deficient mice; mice deficient for proteins implicated in repair mechanisms (PARP gene); transgenic mice deficient in molecules relevant for lymphocytes in the thymus; as well as a number of nude mouse strains.
Both sites have experience in animal models of infection by the following parasites:
Trypanosoma cruzi (strains of differing virulence belonging to Groups I and II)
Trypanosoma brucei brucei
Leishmania infantum
Leishmania major
Leishmania donovani
Trypanosoma rangeli (different subgroups)
Furthermore, this animal experimentation platform seeks to develop new animal models for other infectious parasitic diseases and apply new technologies to such diseases. Whereas some are already available and have the requisite equipment to cater to the needs of the entire RICET, others are not but have the necessary experience to apply them.
In addition to this platform, the various groups in the network have incorporated other experimentation models, such as the case of models in SCID/NOD-immunodeficient mice for the development of Plasmodium falciparum infection, or models of P. Berghei and P.yoelii, models for helminthic infections, such as Schistosomiasis, Strongyloidosis, Fascioliasis, Trichinosis (trichinellosis or trichiniasis), Tapeworm infection/cysticercosis, as well as the experimental model of Caenorhabditis elegans whose genome is sequenced.
Lastly, there are several groups in which colonies of arthropod vectors of these pathogens are developed, as is the case of phlebotominae, triatominae and anophelinae. The platforms offer their collaboration and experience to other RICET members for the design of experiments, different strains of experimental animals, and application of their novel techniques.
