Improving reproducibility and translational potential of mouse models: lessons from studying leishmaniasis

TL;DR

This paper discusses how to improve mouse models for leishmaniasis to better reflect human disease and increase research reproducibility.

Contribution

The paper emphasizes non-genetic factors and strategies to enhance the translational relevance of leishmaniasis mouse models.

Findings

Mouse models for leishmaniasis have limited translational value due to differences from human infection.

Factors like parasite traits, vector components, and host environment significantly affect experimental outcomes.

Adjusting experimental conditions to match human infection can improve translational success.

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a complex disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which are transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. The clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis are diverse, ranging from self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal systemic disease. Mouse models are instrumental in advancing our understanding of the immune system against infections, yet their limitations in translating findings to humans are increasingly highlighted. The success rate of translating data from mice to humans remains low, largely due to the complexity of diseases and the numerous factors that influence the disease outcomes. Therefore, for the effective translation of data from murine models of leishmaniasis, it is essential to align experimental conditions with those relevant to human infection. Factors such as parasite characteristics, vector-derived components, host status, and environmental conditions must be carefully considered and adapted to enhance the translational relevance of mouse data. These parameters are potentially modifiable and should be carefully integrated into the design and interpretation of experimental procedures in Leishmania studies. In the current paper, we review the challenges and perspective of using mouse as a model for leishmaniasis. We have particularly emphasized the non-genetic factors that influence experiments and focused on strategies to improve translational value of studies on leishmaniasis using mouse models.

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