Perspective on animal models: chronic intracellular infections.
Systemic human disease caused by organisms of the Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare complex (MAC) represent a chronic intracellular infection in human hosts who are usually immunocompromised. To develop improved treatment and prophylaxis, and to obtain a better understanding of pathogenesis, we studied the beige mouse (C57 beige(+)/beige(+)) challenged orally or intravenously with a human isolate that causes lethal disease in patients with AIDS (MAC 101, serovar 1). Encouraging anti-MAC studies in animals, as reviewed here, should provide the basis for considering human trials with a promising agent. The ability of an antimicrobial agent to achieve high intracellular concentrations has correlated with the in vivo activity of several specific compounds.
Young
L S
LS
Kuzell Institute for Arthritis and Infectious Diseases, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. Kiaid@cooper.cmpc.org
Bermudez
L E
LE
D000818:Animals; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D015767:Mefloquine