Motheater: an immunodeficient mouse with markedly less ability to survive that the nude mouse in a germfree environment.
The motheaten mouse is an immunodeficient mutant which has been found to have elevated immunoglobulin levels, to exhibit autoimmunity, and early death. Since survival is not improved by a germfree environment, it appears that some mechanism other than infection results in its early demise.
D000818:Animals; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000401:mortality*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009154:Mutation