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Animal Models

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The Buoyancy of Cryptococcal Cells and Its Implications for Transport and Persistence of Cryptococcus in Aqueous Environments

Jimenez et al., mSphere. 2024.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39601568/

Cryptococcosis is a major fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections. Researchers discovered that Cryptococcus has unique buoyancy properties that help with its survival and spread through water transport. This study explores how these fungal cells remain suspended in liquid, potentially enhancing their ability to survive in their surroundings and infect new hosts. Understanding the role of cellular buoyancy in Cryptococcus transport could improve strategies to prevent spread in aqueous settings, offering new insights into fungal infection risks. Supported by ORIP (T32OD011089), NIAID, and NHLBI.

Three Novel Neoplasms in Nancy Ma's Owl Monkeys (Aotus nancymaae)

Bacon et al., Veterinary Pathology. 2024.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39692093/

Researchers have identified three previously unreported tumor types in male and female Nancy Ma’s owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae), a nonhuman primate species that is rarely associated with tumors. Although past cases in owl monkeys were mostly linked to Herpesvirus saimiri–induced lymphoma, this research expands the understanding of tumor development in this species. These findings highlight potential new disease patterns and could inform veterinary care and biomedical research involving owl monkeys. Continued monitoring and investigation of tumors in New World primates are crucial for ensuring animal welfare and research integrity. Supported by ORIP (T32OD011083).

Large Animal Models Enhance the Study of Crypt-Mediated Epithelial Recovery From Prolonged Intestinal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

McKinney-Aguirre et al., American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 2024.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39404771/

Intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) is a severe pathological alteration that compromises the intestinal epithelial barrier, causing bacterial translocation, shock, sepsis, and potentially death. Preclinical research for IRI has focused on utilizing murine models, but mice demonstrate key anatomical and physiological intestinal differences from humans, such as tissue enzymes, intestinal permeability, and hypoxic response pathways. The researchers compared a 3-hour IRI porcine model to a 3-hour IRI murine model to reveal which demonstrated a stronger translational capacity. Both models demonstrated crypt damage, but only the porcine model showed recovery-associated crypt death expansion and re-epithelialization. At 72 hours post-IRI, mouse mortality was 84.6%, whereas porcine mortality was 0%. A porcine model would be more reliable for future translational studies focused on understanding IRI mechanisms for diagnosis and therapy advancements. Supported by ORIP (T32OD011130, K01OD010199, R03OD026598) and NIDDK.