Viral Infection Models for Preclinical Research

Viral infections remain a major global health threat, responsible for seasonal outbreaks, chronic diseases, and emerging pandemics. Despite advances in virology, there is still a lack of effective antiviral therapies for many viral pathogens, and resistance to existing antivirals is an increasing concern. The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted the need for rapid, reliable, and translational preclinical models to accelerate drug and vaccine development.

At Vibiosphen, we provide robust and translational viral infection models in rodents to support the development of novel antivirals, immunomodulators, and vaccines. Our models are designed to generate clinically relevant data that help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies advance their antiviral pipelines with confidence.
 

Background of Viral Infections

Viral diseases affect billions of people worldwide and range from acute respiratory illnesses to chronic systemic infections. Their burden is amplified by:
 

• The rapid evolution and emergence of novel viral strains
• The absence of curative therapies for many infections
• The limited spectrum of existing antivirals compared to antibiotics
• The high cost and complexity of vaccine development
   

Preclinical viral infection models are therefore essential for evaluating the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of therapeutic and prophylactic strategies.

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.
  • GenOway hACE2 mice (for SARS-CoV-2):These mice express the human ACE2 receptor, which is essential for SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells. They allow efficient viral replication in the respiratory tract and mimic human disease progression. 
  • GenOway hSA/hMHC mice (for influenza and emerging respiratory viruses):Influenza research often requires models that better reflect human immune recognition. GenOway mice expressing human sialic acid receptors (hSA) and/or humanized MHC alleles provide improved susceptibility to influenza virus strains and support translational vaccine research
  • 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 Viral Models

Vibiosphen has access to validated viral strains and can also adapt models to client-specific isolates.

Respiratory Viruses

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

• Influenza A and B
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 (BSL3 facility access)
• Rhinoviruses
• And further strains available (please ask for specific pathogens including BSL3)
   

Other Relevant Viruses

• West Nile Virus 
• Herpesviruses 

Additional strains can be implemented upon request, including client-supplied isolates.

Readouts in Viral Infection Models

To ensure robust and translational outcomes, Vibiosphen employs a wide range of validated readouts:

• Viral load quantification: PCR-based methods or plaque assays in infected tissues and fluids
• 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: Assessment of tissue damage, viral localization, and immune infiltration
• Cytokine and biomarker profiling: Analysis of innate and adaptive immune responses
• Serology and neutralization assays: Evaluation of antibody responses in vaccine studies
• Imaging approaches: Bioluminescence or fluorescence imaging of viral replication (when available)

These endpoints provide comprehensive insights into viral pathogenesis and prophilactic and therapeutic efficacy.

Applications of Vibiosphen’s Viral Infection Models

Our viral infection models are applied in a broad range of preclinical research applications:

• Efficacy testing of novel antivirals and immunomodulators
• Vaccine development and immunogenicity studies
• Pharmacodynamics (PD) studies to establish optimal dosing
• Host–virus interaction and immune response analysis
• Comparative efficacy against standard-of-care treatments
   

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.