Animal Models of Alphavirus-induced Inflammatory Disease

Animal models that reflect key aspects of human disease are invaluable tools for understanding the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and development of treatment strategies. In particular, animal models play important roles in expanding the current understanding of the pathobiology of alphavirus infection. Alphaviruses are arthropod-borne viruses that are able to infect a variety of vertebrate hosts. In humans, infection can result in extensive morbidity and mortality. As the global distribution of alphaviruses expands, with recent outbreaks in new areas of the world, there is an overwhelming need to improve our understanding of alphavirus pathogenesis with the key objective of anti-alphaviral drug design.