title: Are mouse models of human mycobacterial diseases relevant? Genetics says: 'yes!'.
abstract: Relevance and accuracy of experimental mouse models of tuberculosis (TB) are the subject of constant debate. This article briefly reviews genetic aspects of this problem and provides a few examples of mycobacterial diseases with similar or identical genetic control in mice and humans. The two species display more similarities than differences regarding both genetics of susceptibility/severity of mycobacterial diseases and the networks of protective and pathological immune reactions. In the opinion of the author, refined mouse models of mycobacterial diseases are extremely useful for modelling the corresponding human conditions, if genetic diversity is taken into account.
authors: Central Institute for Tuberculosis, Moscow, Russia. asapt@aha.ru
authors: Alexander S
authors: AS
authors: Apt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D020412:Multifactorial Inheritance; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000099185:Interferon Regulatory Factor-8; D000099173:Natural Resistance-associated Macrophage Protein 1
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000099185:Interferon Regulatory Factor-8; D000099173:Natural Resistance-associated Macrophage Protein 1; C465035:Ifi75 protein, mouse; C412425:Sp110 protein, human