Selecting the ideal host animal for conducting immunological studies is critical for biomedical researchers. In the case of antibody production, choosing the animal species directly impacts quality, quantity, and all major characteristics of the antibodies produced. There are several industry-standard animal species used in antibody production and disease modeling, largely due to decades of scientific research.
Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com
These animals are used in several critical roles, such as conducting toxicity testing, generating polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and even in developing disease models. Other parameters, including experimental timelines and budgets, are also influenced by the choice of host animals.
Understanding the distinct advantages and applications of each species will help potential researchers to optimize their methodologies and produce superior results. This article explores the five most commonly used host animals in modern scientific biomedical research.
1. Laboratory mouse
Binomial nomenclature: Mus musculus
According to an estimate, about 61 % of all host animals used in research are laboratory mice. The choice is made because of:
- Small size that facilitates easy housing
- Short reproductive cycles
- Well-characterized genetics that is strongly similar to human biology
Laboratory mice are used for the production of mAbs through hybridoma technology. They also serve as disease models for the study of metabolic conditions, neurological disorders, and cancer. The genetic make-up is in strong homology with humans, and thus, they are invaluable for understanding disease mechanisms.
Although there is a limitation in the case of mouse antibodies, in some immunohistochemistry experiments, mouse-on-mouse cross-reactivity can happen. This challenge often requires additional blocking steps, extending experimental protocols.
2. Rat
Binomial nomenclature: Rattus norvegicus
After mice, rats are the second most commonly used animals in European research facilities, accounting for almost 14 % of host animals. They are relatively larger in size as opposed to lab mice, and thus easy to handle, while maintaining genetic tractability and behavioral predictability.
Specific traits make them ideal as a host animal for behavioral studies:
- Mild temperament
- Docile nature
Most frequently used for neuroscience research and pharmacological assessments. Rats possess known microbial status and genetic backgrounds, essential for reproducible research. They respond to human disease conditions similarly to humans, particularly in models of metabolic and cardiovascular disease.
3. Rabbit
Binomial nomenclature: Oryctolagus cuniculus
A high degree of success is observed in the case of pAb production when using rabbits as host animals. They typically produce 250 mg of IgG per bleed, which is a healthy yield from a single animal.
They are preferred by many researchers because:
- Rabbit’s immune systems recognize a wide diversity of antigens with respect to rodents
- Produces high-titer
- Relatively long lifespan
- High level of success for producing high-affinity antibodies with excellent precipitating characteristics.
Widely used in atherosclerosis research due to their dietary sensitivity to cholesterol, they mimic human responses.
4. Goat
Binomial nomenclature: Capra aegagrus hircus
When it comes to the industrial-scale production of polyclonal antibodies, goats are the preferred choice. The serum yield is the major advantage: goats usually produce 7-8 times antiserum than other small lab animals.
The total IgG concentration exceeds 20 mg/mL, which is 2-3 times higher than that of the small host animal species. Highly efficient for the production of blocking reagents used in immunological applications.
Normal Goat Serum (NGS) exemplifies this advantage, being extensively employed in immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).
By saturating Fc receptors and preventing unwanted protein interactions on tissue samples, the serum effectively blocks non-specific antibody binding. Depending on the experiment and tissue type, the general concentration of normal goat serum ranges from 1 % to 20 %.
When it comes to immunohistochemistry protocols, NGS helps prevent background noise and maximizes signal-to-noise ratios to achieve better image quality and interpretability.
5. Sheep
Binomial nomenclature: Ovis aries
Sheep exhibit a substantial similarity to goats in their ability to produce large quantities of antibodies. The antibodies produced have strong stability, and hence sheep are used in cases of immunological and veterinary medicine research.
Their serum characteristics prove exceptionally stable across production batches, an advantage over smaller animal models exhibiting greater variation.
The primary limitation remains the ethical consideration of using larger animals; however, researchers argue that obtaining maximal antibody yields from fewer animals represents a moral advantage, as outlined in the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).
Conclusion: The future of the host animal selection
A significant part of the success of research depends on the proper selection of host animal species. Some of the other animal species used include the chicken (Gallus gallus) and the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).
The use of a host animal necessitates a delicate balance between scientific requirements and ethical considerations.
In addition to emerging technologies, understanding the distinctive advantages of each species enables researchers to make informed decisions that optimize scientific outcomes while respecting animal welfare principles.
About AAA Biotech
We offer the highest-grade reagents available anywhere in the world.
The majority of AAA Biotech’s antibodies are highly validated and can be used in multiple applications such as ELISA, FC, ICC, IF, IHC, IP, WB, etc. We have antibodies available for rare species, in multiple conjugated forms or recombinant antibodies.
As for our high quality proteins, the majority have 90 % purity, detected by SDS-PAGE while some are available in different tags such as Flag, GST, His, MBP, etc. We also carry high quality native and biologically active proteins.
AAA Biotech is constantly working to expand our capacity to provide recombinant proteins, antibodies and ELISA kits to most target proteins.
Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.