KMT Mouse Model
The KMT MouseTM is a transgenic mouse model with a humanized liver that can be successfully infected with HCV, HBV or malaria and remain infected over an extended period of time.
Immunodeficient mice (homozygous for both the scid trait and Alb/uPA transgene) are transplanted via splenic injection with isolated human hepatocytes taken from noninfected human donors. The transplanted cells translocate to and engraft within the mouse's liver.
The human hepatocyte population rapidly expands and replaces the mouse hepatocytes. Mice with chimeric livers are then inoculated with human serum containing infectious viral particles and they support durable replication of the virus at levels observed in humans.
This is the first non-chimpanzee animal model for practical testing of HCV drug candidates. The model has significant advantages over in vitro systems in that it represents an in vivo infection, all HCV proteins are expressed at biologically relevant levels, and infectious virions are assembled and released from hepatocytes.
Currently we are increasing the range of offered services by adding Hepatitis B and Malaria to our disease portfolio.
All animal use is subject to annual review by the Canadian Council for Animal Care and the University of Alberta Medical Ethics and Animal Welfare Committees.