Animal models of human herpesvirus infection

Abstract Human herpesvirus, a specific group within the herpesvirus family, is responsible for a variety of human diseases. These viruses can infect humans and other vertebrates, primarily targeting the skin, mucous membranes, and neural tissues, thereby significantly impacting the health of both hu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ziqing Jia, Dong Zhang, Lin Zhu, Jing Xue
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Animal Models and Experimental Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ame2.12575
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849700497826512896
author Ziqing Jia
Dong Zhang
Lin Zhu
Jing Xue
author_facet Ziqing Jia
Dong Zhang
Lin Zhu
Jing Xue
author_sort Ziqing Jia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Human herpesvirus, a specific group within the herpesvirus family, is responsible for a variety of human diseases. These viruses can infect humans and other vertebrates, primarily targeting the skin, mucous membranes, and neural tissues, thereby significantly impacting the health of both humans and animals. Animal models are crucial for studying virus pathogenesis, vaccine development, and drug testing. Despite several vaccine candidates being in preclinical and clinical stages, no vaccines are current available to prevent lifelong infections caused by these human herpesviruses, except for varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) vaccine. However, the strict host tropism of herpesviruses and other limitations mean that no single animal model can fully replicate all key features of human herpesvirus‐associated diseases. This makes it challenging to evaluate vaccines and antivirals against human herpesvirus comprehensively. Herein, we summarize the current animal models used to study the human herpesviruses including α‐herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV‐1), HSV‐2, VZV), β‐herpesviruses (human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), γ‐herpesviruses (Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)) and Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)). By providing concise information and detailed analysis of the potential, limitations and applications of various models, such as non‐human primates, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, and tree shrews, this summary aims to help researchers efficiently select the most appropriate animal model, offering practical guidance for studying human herpesvirus.
format Article
id doaj-art-56d2ff164e3644ee9b653c39add00a1a
institution DOAJ
issn 2576-2095
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Animal Models and Experimental Medicine
spelling doaj-art-56d2ff164e3644ee9b653c39add00a1a2025-08-20T03:18:15ZengWileyAnimal Models and Experimental Medicine2576-20952025-04-018461562810.1002/ame2.12575Animal models of human herpesvirus infectionZiqing Jia0Dong Zhang1Lin Zhu2Jing Xue3NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaNHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaNHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaNHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing ChinaAbstract Human herpesvirus, a specific group within the herpesvirus family, is responsible for a variety of human diseases. These viruses can infect humans and other vertebrates, primarily targeting the skin, mucous membranes, and neural tissues, thereby significantly impacting the health of both humans and animals. Animal models are crucial for studying virus pathogenesis, vaccine development, and drug testing. Despite several vaccine candidates being in preclinical and clinical stages, no vaccines are current available to prevent lifelong infections caused by these human herpesviruses, except for varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) vaccine. However, the strict host tropism of herpesviruses and other limitations mean that no single animal model can fully replicate all key features of human herpesvirus‐associated diseases. This makes it challenging to evaluate vaccines and antivirals against human herpesvirus comprehensively. Herein, we summarize the current animal models used to study the human herpesviruses including α‐herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV‐1), HSV‐2, VZV), β‐herpesviruses (human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), γ‐herpesviruses (Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)) and Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)). By providing concise information and detailed analysis of the potential, limitations and applications of various models, such as non‐human primates, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, and tree shrews, this summary aims to help researchers efficiently select the most appropriate animal model, offering practical guidance for studying human herpesvirus.https://doi.org/10.1002/ame2.12575animal modelsEBVHSVhuman herpesvirusKSHVVZV
spellingShingle Ziqing Jia
Dong Zhang
Lin Zhu
Jing Xue
Animal models of human herpesvirus infection
Animal Models and Experimental Medicine
animal models
EBV
HSV
human herpesvirus
KSHV
VZV
title Animal models of human herpesvirus infection
title_full Animal models of human herpesvirus infection
title_fullStr Animal models of human herpesvirus infection
title_full_unstemmed Animal models of human herpesvirus infection
title_short Animal models of human herpesvirus infection
title_sort animal models of human herpesvirus infection
topic animal models
EBV
HSV
human herpesvirus
KSHV
VZV
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ame2.12575
work_keys_str_mv AT ziqingjia animalmodelsofhumanherpesvirusinfection
AT dongzhang animalmodelsofhumanherpesvirusinfection
AT linzhu animalmodelsofhumanherpesvirusinfection
AT jingxue animalmodelsofhumanherpesvirusinfection