Immunodeficienthiiret

Immunodeficient mice are laboratory animals that have a compromised or absent immune system. This condition is typically achieved through genetic engineering, where specific genes responsible for immune function are inactivated or modified. The most common types of immunodeficient mice include SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency) mice and nude mice. SCID mice lack functional B and T lymphocytes, which are crucial for adaptive immunity, making them highly susceptible to infections. Nude mice have a genetic mutation that results in the absence of a thymus, leading to a deficiency in T-cell development.

These mice are invaluable tools in biomedical research, particularly in immunology, infectious disease, and cancer research. Their lack of a functional immune system allows researchers to study the effects of transplanted cells, tissues, or pathogens without the host's immune system rejecting them. For instance, immunodeficient mice are widely used for xenotransplantation, where human cells or organs are engrafted for study. They are also essential for cancer research, enabling the growth and study of human tumors in vivo, which helps in developing and testing new anti-cancer therapies. Furthermore, they are used to investigate the pathogenesis of various infectious diseases and to develop vaccines and antimicrobial agents. Strict sterile conditions and specialized care are necessary when working with immunodeficient mice due to their increased vulnerability to opportunistic infections.