Mouse model of oropharyngeal candidiasis

Nat Protoc. 2012 Mar 8;7(4):637-42. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2012.011.

Abstract

Oropharyngeal candidiasis is a frequent cause of morbidity in patients with defects in cell-mediated immunity or saliva production. Animal models of this infection are important for studying disease pathogenesis and evaluating vaccines and antifungal therapies. Here we describe a simple mouse model of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Mice are rendered susceptible to oral infection by injection with cortisone acetate and then inoculated by placing a swab saturated with Candida albicans sublingually. This process results in a reproducible level of infection, the histopathology of which mimics that of pseudomembranous oropharyngeal candidiasis in humans. By using this model, data are obtained after 5-9 d of work.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Candida albicans
  • Candidiasis, Oral / microbiology
  • Candidiasis, Oral / pathology*
  • Cortisone / analogs & derivatives
  • Cortisone / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Mice*
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Pharyngeal Diseases / microbiology*

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cortisone