Work

The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach as an Alternative Non-mammalian Animal Model to Investigate Virulence, Pathogenesis, and Drug Efficacy

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Many aspects of innate immunity are conserved between mammals and insects. An insect, the Madagascar hissing cockroach from the genus Gromphadorhina, can be utilized as an alternative animal model for the study of virulence, host-pathogen interaction, innate immune response, and drug efficacy. Details for the rearing, care and breeding of the hissing cockroach are provided. We also illustrate how it can be infected with bacteria such as the intracellular pathogens Burkholderia mallei, B. pseudomallei, and B. thailandensis. Use of the hissing cockroach is inexpensive and overcomes regulatory issues dealing with the use of mammals in research. In addition, results found using the hissing cockroach model are reproducible and similar to those obtained using mammalian models. Thus, the Madagascar hissing cockroach represents an attractive surrogate host that should be explored when conducting animal studies.

Source: Journal of Visualized Experiments

DOI: 10.3791/56491

Authors: Jennifer Chua, Nathan A. Fisher, Shane D. Falcinelli, David DeShazer, Arthur M. Friedlander

Institutions: United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Southern Research Institute

Language: English

Topic: Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Defense Threat Reduction Agency