Skin Infection Models for Preclinical Research

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are among the most common infectious diseases, ranging from superficial infections to severe necrotizing fasciitis. They represent a significant clinical burden, particularly in immunocompromised patients and those with chronic wounds. The global rise of antimicrobial resistance, especially among Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, underscores the urgent need for new antibiotics, antifungals, and topical formulations.

At Vibiosphen, we provide translational skin infection models in rodents that enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to evaluate novel antimicrobials, antifungals, and wound-healing therapies under clinically relevant conditions.

Background of Skin Infections

Skin infections occur when pathogens colonize or invade the epidermis, dermis, or deeper soft tissues. They can manifest as localized abscesses, chronic wounds, or systemic complications if pathogens spread to the bloodstream. Their clinical impact is amplified by:
•    The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in community and hospital-acquired infections
•    The high recurrence rates of chronic wounds and abscesses
•    The limited pipeline of new topical and systemic therapies for resistant pathogens
•    The role of skin barrier damage (trauma, burns, surgery) as a gateway for infection

Preclinical skin infection models are therefore essential to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action of innovative therapies.
 

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.

H3 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
•    Topical application (creams, gels, dressings, or sprays directly on the skin) 
…

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 Skin Infection Models

Vibiosphen maintains access to validated strains and can also adapt models to client-specific pathogens.

Bacterial Skin Infections

•    Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA)
•    Streptococcus pyogenes
•    Pseudomonas aeruginosa (chronic wound and burn infections)
•    Acinetobacter baumannii
•    Klebsiella pneumoniae
•    And further strains available (please ask for specific pathogens)

Fungal Skin Infections

•    Candida albicans (cutaneous and mucocutaneous infection models)
•    Candida tropicalis
•    Trichophyton spp. (dermatophyte infections)
•    And further strains available (please ask for specific pathogens)

These models are particularly valuable for evaluating new topical formulations, systemic therapies, and wound-healing adjuncts.
 

Readouts in Skin Infection Models

To ensure robust and translational outcomes, Vibiosphen uses a wide range of validated readouts:
•    Microbiological burden: CFU quantification in skin tissue, wounds, or abscesses
•    Clinical scoring: Comprehensive monitoring of mouse welfare and clinical signs. Lesion size, erythema, edema, necrosis, and wound closure kinetics
•    Histopathology: Microscopic evaluation of epidermis, dermis, and immune infiltration
•    Biomarker analysis: Cytokine profiling in skin tissue and systemic samples
•    Imaging approaches: Bioluminescence or fluorescence to monitor infection progression in vivo
•    Recurrence and chronicity studies: Assessment of reinfection or delayed healing, particularly relevant for chronic wounds

These endpoints can be combined depending on the study design, ensuring comprehensive evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.
 

Applications of Vibiosphen’s Skin Infection Models

Our skin and soft tissue infection models are applied in a wide range of preclinical studies:
•    Efficacy testing of topical and systemic antimicrobials and antifungals
•    Evaluation of novel wound-healing and skin-barrier therapies
•    Pharmacodynamics (PD) studies to establish optimal dosing
•    Host immune response and skin pathology analysis
•    Comparative studies against current standard-of-care therapies

Why Choose Vibiosphen?

•    Proven expertise in infectious disease and dermatological infection models
•    Flexible study designs adapted to sponsor requirements
•    State-of-the-art BSL2 and BSL3 facilities for bacterial and fungal pathogens
•    Strong collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and academic institutions

Vibiosphen combines scientific excellence with translational expertise to deliver actionable preclinical data that drive innovation in skin and soft tissue infection therapeutics.

Contact Us

If you are developing new treatments for skin or soft tissue infections, Vibiosphen can help accelerate your research.
Contact us today to discuss your project and explore how our skin infection models can support your development strategy.
We will be pleased to provide a customized study design tailored to your objectives.