Trolling for the ideal model host: zebrafish take the bait

As little as 10 years ago, murine models of infectious disease were the host of choice for analyzing interactions between the pathogen and host during infection. However, not all pathogens can infect mice, nor do they always replicate the clinical syndromes observed in human infections. Furthermore, in the current economic environment, using mammalian models for large-scale screens may be less economically feasible. The emergence of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an infectious disease host model, as well as a model for vertebrate immune system development, has provided new information and insights into pathogenesis that, in many instances, would not have been possible using a murine model host. In this article we highlight some of the key findings and the latest techniques along with the many advantages of using the zebrafish host model to gain new insights into pathogenic mechanisms in a live vertebrate host.