Animal models for gastric Helicobacter immunology and vaccine studies

Over the last decade animal models have been used extensively to investigat e disease processes and therapy for Helicobacter pylori infections. The H. pylori animal models which have been used in pathogenesis and vaccine studi es include the gnotobiotic pig, non-human primates, cats, dogs, and several species of rodents including mice, rats, gerbils and guinea pigs. H. felis infection of mice and H. mustelae infection of ferrets have also been used . Recently, investigators have begun using transgenic mice and gene-targete d 'knock-out' mice to investigate Helicobacter infections. Each of these an imal models has distinct advantages and disadvantages which are discussed i n this minireview. The choice of an animal model is dictated by factors suc h as cost and an understanding of how each model will or will not allow ful fillment of experimental objectives. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microb iological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .