Explore the advantages and limitations of rats as model organisms in biomedical research. Learn why they are widely used in neuroscience, toxicology, and genetics. In this article, the authors outline the advantages of the cotton rat compared with the mouse as a model for infection with measles virus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, human

The most significant contribution of the cotton rat to biomedical research has been the development of anti-rsv antibodies for prophylactic use in high-risk infants. Cotton rat is considered a more relevant animal model for preclinical studies on rsv infection than balb/c mice. Consequently, cotton rats are used to study rsv pathogenesis, anti-rsv drugs, and … The rat was an ideal model for generating this discovery because of its enhanced cognitive and social ability, which, compared to mice, better resembles that of humans (iannaccone and jacob 2009). The cotton rat ( sigmodon hispidus ) model has proven to be a suitable small animal model for measles virus pathogenesis to fill the niche between tissue culture and studies in macaques.

The cotton rat ( sigmodon hispidus ) model has proven to be a suitable small animal model for measles virus pathogenesis to fill the niche between tissue culture and studies in macaques.