Mastomys Species as Model Systems for Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Replacements of animal models by advanced in vitro systems in biomedical research, despite exceptions, are currently still not satisfactory in reproducing the whole complexity of pathophysiological mechanisms that finally lead to disease. Therefore, preclinical models are additionally required to reflect analogous in vivo situations as found in humans. Despite proven limitations of both approaches, only a combined experimental arrangement guarantees generalizability of results and their transfer to the clinics. Although the laboratory mouse still stands as a paradigm for many scientific discoveries and breakthroughs, it is mandatory to broaden our view by also using nontraditional animal models. The present review will first reflect the value of experimental systems in life science and subsequently describes the preclinical rodent model Mastomys coucha that—although still not well known in the scientific community—has a long history in research of parasites, bacteria, papillomaviruses and cancer. Using Mastomys, we could recently show for the first time that cutaneous papillomaviruses—in conjunction with UV as an environmental risk factor—induce squamous cell carcinomas of the skin via a “hit-and-run” mechanism. Moreover, Mastomys coucha was also used as a proof-of-principle model for the successful vaccination against non-melanoma skin cancer even under immunosuppressive conditions.

Expression of different L1 isoforms of Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus as mechanism to circumvent adaptive immunity

“…The MnPV-infected rodent Mastomys coucha is a reliable preclinical model that mimics many aspects of the situation found in humans infected with cutaneous HPVs. Since the animals are immunocompetent and become naturally infected early in life ( Hasche and Rösl, 2019 ; Hasche et al, 2018 ), they represent a unique virus-host system to investigate the humoral response against MnPV L1 isoforms during the natural course of infection.…”

“…The African multimammate rodent Mastomys coucha represents a unique model system to investigate the consequences of a natural PV infection in the context of skin carcinogenesis ( Hasche and Rösl, 2019 ). The animals become infected with Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus (MnPV) soon after birth ( Schäfer et al, 2011 ) and seroconversion against viral proteins can be detected shortly afterwards ( Schäfer et al, 2010 ).…”

Identification and Elimination of the Clinically Relevant Multi-Resistant Environmental Bacteria Ralstonia insidiosa in Primary Cell Culture

“…Hybridoma clones were generated by fusion of splenocytes from the rodent Mastomys coucha [ 25 ] and the murine Sp2/0-Ag 14 cell line, repeatedly screened for the production of specific antibodies and subcloned via limited dilution to ensure monoclonality [ 15 ]. Each subcloning required addition of freshly and aseptically isolated feeder splenocytes.…”

“…Hybridoma cells obtained from a fusion of murine Sp2/0-Ag 14 cells and Mastomys coucha splenocytes [ 25 ] were cultured in 6-well plates in RPMI-1640 (Sigma-Aldrich, catalogue no 8758, Munich, Germany) supplemented with 10% ( v / v ) heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS; Gibco, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA), 100 units/mL penicillin and 100 mg/mL streptomycin in at 37 °C and 5% CO 2 .…”

Development of assisted reproductive technologies in small animal species for their efficient preservation and production

“… ). Mastomys is a genus of African small rodents that is still not well known in the scientific community, but provides unique animal models for lysosomal glycolipid storage disease [ 20 ], infectious diseases [ 21 ], and gastric cancers [ 22 ]. As hamster embryos are known to be very difficult to culture in vitro , the first hamster offspring were obtained from cryopreserved embryos using a vitrification method with a mixture of ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; acronym EDFS) 36 years after the first successful use of IVF in this species [ 23 ].…”