ABSTRACT
Testing the immunogenicity, protective efficacy, and safety in animal models is one of the most important steps in vaccine development after the construction and formulation of the protective antigens and before human clinical trials. Pig (Sus scrofa) has high similarities with humans in gastrointestinal anatomy, physiology, nutritional/dietary requirements, and mucosal immunity. For pre-clinical testing of human rotavirus and norovirus vaccines, an animal model that can exhibit the same or a similar clinical sign of disease as that in humans is critical for assessing protection against both infection and disease upon challenge. Gnotobiotic (Gn) pig models fulfill this need. Mouse models are more readily available than pig models and are useful for testing vaccine immunogenicity; however, mice cannot be infected by HRV or HuNoV and are not useful for evaluation of vaccine-induced adaptive immunity associated with protection against rotavirus or norovirus disease. In this chapter, the definition of Gn pigs and the brief history of early studies of HRV and HuNoV in Gn pigs are introduced.
