Mouse models of otitis media.
OBJECTIVE
Otitis media is one of the most prevalent inflammatory diseases in the pediatric population. The personal and societal costs for otitis media are significant. Problems arising from antibiotic use have led to considerable animal research efforts to better understand the mechanisms of acute otitis media and to develop new strategies for its prevention and treatment.


RESULTS
Various animal models induce acute otitis media from a variety of interventions, including direct injection of whole bacteria or their products into the middle ear. The mouse model has begun to emerge as a model for otitis media. The mouse affords many advantages for in-vivo research, including ease of genetic manipulation, availability of numerous inbred and transgenic strains, and an extensively studied immune system. Experimental reagents for cellular and molecular studies are widely available for the mouse. The mouse is an excellent model for investigating the genetics and molecular bases for otitis media due to the extensive understanding of the mouse genome.


CONCLUSIONS
With the increased availability of knockout and transgenic mice, and the large amount of data to indicate that human disease is accurately modeled in the mouse, the mouse model is increasingly becoming a model of choice.
MacArthur
Carol J
CJ
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239-3098, USA. macarthc@ohsu.edu
Trune
Dennis R
DR
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012106:Research
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines