TitlePerspective on animal models: chronic intracellular infections.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2001
AuthorsYoung, LS, Bermudez, LE
JournalClinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Volume33 Suppl 3
PaginationS221-6
Date Published2001 Sep 15
KeywordsPredictive Value of Tests
Abstract

Systemic human disease caused by organisms of the Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare complex (MAC) represent a chronic intracellular infection in human hosts who are usually immunocompromised. To develop improved treatment and prophylaxis, and to obtain a better understanding of pathogenesis, we studied the beige mouse (C57 beige(+)/beige(+)) challenged orally or intravenously with a human isolate that causes lethal disease in patients with AIDS (MAC 101, serovar 1). Encouraging anti-MAC studies in animals, as reviewed here, should provide the basis for considering human trials with a promising agent. The ability of an antimicrobial agent to achieve high intracellular concentrations has correlated with the in vivo activity of several specific compounds.

DOI10.1086/321851