title: Chinchilla and murine models of upper respiratory tract infections with respiratory syncytial virus.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and the elderly. While the primary infection is the most serious, reinfection of the upper airway throughout life is the rule. Although relatively little is known about either RSV infection of the upper respiratory tract or host mucosal immunity to RSV, recent literature suggests that RSV is the predominant viral pathogen predisposing to bacterial otitis media (OM). Herein, we describe mouse and chinchilla models of RSV infection of the nasopharynx and Eustachian tube. Both rodent hosts were susceptible to RSV infection of the upper airway following intranasal challenge; however, the chinchilla proved to be more permissive than the mouse. The chinchilla model will likely be extremely useful to test the role of RSV in bacterial OM and the efficacy of RSV vaccine candidates designed to provide mucosal and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immunity. Ultimately, we hope to investigate the relative ability of these candidates to potentially protect against viral predisposal to bacterial OM.
authors.affiliation: Columbus Children's Research Institute, Rm. W591, The Ohio State University College of Medicine & Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205-2696, USA.
authors.forename: Negin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gitiban
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jurcisek
authors.forename: Randall H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mertz
authors.forename: Russell K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Durbin
authors.forename: Lauren O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Bakaletz
authors.forename: Joan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Durbin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002682:Chinchilla; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009302:Nasopharyngeal Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013045:Species Specificity