Pulmonary Infection Models for Preclinical Research

Pulmonary infections remain a major global health challenge. They are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality and represent one of the leading causes of hospitalization worldwide. The rise of antimicrobial resistance, the emergence of new respiratory pathogens, and the limited number of effective treatments highlight the urgent need for innovative therapies.

At Vibiosphen, we provide robust and translational pulmonary infection models in mice to support the development of novel antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals. Our models are designed to generate clinically relevant data that help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies accelerate drug discovery and vaccine research.

Background of Pulmonary Infections

Respiratory infections are among the most common infectious diseases affecting humans. They range from community-acquired pneumonia to hospital-acquired lung infections and severe viral outbreaks. Their global burden is amplified by:

• The spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria
• The limited pipeline of new antifungal agents
• The rapid evolution of viral respiratory pathogens

Preclinical pulmonary infection models are therefore critical for evaluating the efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action of new therapeutic candidates before entering further stage of drug development.

Rodent Models of Pulmonary Infection

Mouse lineages

• The primary mouse lineages used in preclinical studies are inbred strains known for their genetic uniformity, which minimizes experimental variability.
  • C57BL/6 mice have a T-helper type 1 (Th1) biased immune response, which is a cellular immune response important for fighting intracellular pathogens and cancer.
  • BALB/c mice have a T-helper type 2 (Th2) biased immune response. A Th2 response is a humoral immune response that relies on antibodies and is essential for combatting extracellular parasites.

• Outbred mice, unlike their inbred counterparts, are maintained in large, randomly bred colonies to maximize genetic variation. This heterogeneity makes each mouse genetically unique.
  • Swiss mice, OF1 and CD1

The decision to use an inbred or outbred strain depends on the specific research question. Inbred mice are for when you want to minimize all genetic variables and pinpoint the effect of a single factor. Outbred mice are for when you want to see how a factor affects a genetically varied population.

Rat lineages

• Inbred strain, meaning they are genetically uniform, and provide a consistent baseline for preclinical studies, which is essential for reproducibility.
  • Fischer 344 (F344) rats

• Outbred rats. They have a wide range of genetic variability, which better represents the genetic diversity found in the human population 
  • Sprague Dawley rats 
  • Wistar rats 

The decision to use an inbred or outbred strain depends on the specific research question. Inbred rats are for when you want to minimize all genetic variables and pinpoint the effect of a single factor. Outbred rats are for when you want to see how a factor affects a genetically varied population.

Routes of Administration

Compounds under evaluation can be administered through several routes to reflect clinical usage and pharmacological profiles:

• Oral gavage 
• Intraperitoneal route
• Intravenous route
• Subcutaneous route
• Intramuscular route
• Intranasal route
• Inhalation / aerosolization route

• Intratracheal route

   

This versatility allows us to design tailored studies that align both the infection route and the therapeutic administration route with the intended clinical application.

Pathogens Studied in Vibiosphen Pulmonary Models

Vibiosphen has access to extensive pathogen collections with validated infection models, and can additionally obtain specific strains (not listed below) through established collaborations with hospitals, research institutes, and other organizations, including clinical isolates. Additionally, we have established expertise in performing infection studies with client-specific strains, including the adaptation and validation of models to ensure strain-specific relevance.

Bacterial Lung Infections

Our bacterial pulmonary infection models cover a broad range of clinically relevant pathogens, including:

• Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA)
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Acinetobacter baumannii 
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• And further strains available (please ask for specific pathogens including BSL3)

These models are especially valuable for evaluating new antibiotics and tackling the global issue of antimicrobial resistance.

Fungal Pulmonary Infections

Fungal infections of the lungs are increasingly recognized in immunocompromised patients. Vibiosphen develops models with key fungal pathogens such as:

• Aspergillus fumigatus
• And further strains available (please ask for specific pathogens)

These models support the preclinical evaluation of antifungal efficacy, dosing strategies, and host–pathogen interactions.

Viral Respiratory Infections

Vibiosphen provides models for a variety of viral lung infections, including:

• Influenza virus (influenza A – influenza B) 
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 (Thanks to biosafety level 3 access)
• Rhinovirus 
• And further strains available (please ask for specific pathogens including BSL3)

These viral infection models are instrumental for testing antiviral compounds, immunomodulatory strategies, and novel vaccine candidates.

Readouts in Pulmonary Infection Models

To ensure robust and translational results, Vibiosphen employs a wide range of validated readouts in its pulmonary infection studies. These endpoints allow comprehensive evaluation of both pathogen control and host response:

• Microbiological burden: Quantification of colony-forming units (CFU) / bacterial & fungal load in blood, lung tissue and other organs
• Survival and clinical scoring: Comprehensive monitoring of mouse welfare and clinical signs. Evaluation of weight loss, behavior, and respiratory symptoms as indicators of disease severity
• Histopathology and immunohistochemistry: Microscopic examination of lung tissue for inflammation, tissue damage, and pathogen localization
• Cytokine and biomarker profiling: Measurement of immune mediators in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), or lung homogenates
• Imaging approaches (bioluminescence or fluorescence where applicable): Non-invasive monitoring of infection progression and therapeutic effects

These endpoints can be combined and customized depending on the research objectives, providing a detailed understanding of both the efficacy and the mechanism of action of investigational compounds.

Applications of Vibiosphen’s Pulmonary Infection Models

Our pulmonary infection models are used in a wide range of preclinical research applications:

• Efficacy testing of novel antimicrobials and antifungals
• Pharmacodynamics (PD) studies to establish optimal dosing
• Host immune response analysis and pathology characterization
• Comparative studies for candidate screening and lead optimization

Why Choose Vibiosphen?

• Proven expertise in infectious disease research
• Flexible and customized study designs adapted to sponsor requirements (see downloads available as example) 
• Advanced facilities to ensure reliable and reproducible results (BSL2 and BSL3) 
• Strong collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and academic partners

Vibiosphen combines scientific excellence with industry know-how to deliver actionable preclinical data that drive innovation in infectious disease therapeutics.

Contact Us

If you are developing new treatments or vaccines against pulmonary infections, Vibiosphen can help accelerate your research.

Contact us today to discuss your project and explore how our pulmonary infection models can support your development strategy. 

We will be pleased to facilitate your project by providing a customized study design to your project objectives.