Key Reagents for the Analysis of Hamster Immune Response

Due to its physiological similarity to humans, the golden Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) has long been used to model cardiovascular pathology, metabolic diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases in the laboratory. Hamsters have been used to study a wide variety of viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases, including leptospirosis, clostridiosis, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, and babesiosis. Unlike mice, hamsters exhibit functional responses to human cytokines, making them more predictive models for studying the symptomology, pathogenesis, and immune responses associated with viral infections. Because of this, the golden Syrian hamster model has been used to study more than 70 different viruses, including critical work in the study of SARS-CoV2.¹

Despite their utility, the model has been limited by the lack of key reagents necessary for full characterization of the hamster immune response. To address this need, BEI Resources now offers monoclonal antibodies to the following antigens in the golden Syrian hamster: CD11b, CD19, IFN-γ, CD16, CD14, CD69, and CD38. These reagents will provide additional tools for analyzing critical functions in the hamster model, including antimicrobial activities, tumor suppression, and immune regulation.

References:

1. Miao J, et al. “Syrian Hamster as an Animal Model for the Study on Infectious Diseases.” Front. Immunol. 10 (2019): 2329. Pubmed: 31632404.

Image alt text: Golden Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). (BEI Resources)

Image Credit: Golden Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). (BEI Resources)