A new study from Memorial Sloan Kettering reports the first evidence of a bacterial species that appears to help kill dangerous microbes in the gut.
Read MoreFruit flies have helped to develop drugs designed to treat a range of diseases from skin infections and genetic disorders to pneumonia, and meningitis. Some of the recent research with fruit flies has focused on understanding Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, spastic paraplegia, cancer, obesity and insomnia.
Visit Species PageImmunodeficient mice, like this one, need specialized care to ensure their health is not compromised. They are important for several research areas including immunology, infectious disease, cancer, and organ transplantation. These particular mice are bred so that they lack a thymus gland, which reduces the number of T cells in…
View and ShareRabbits are the reason our dogs and cats can live with us in our houses. Louis Pasteur worked with rabbits to develop the first rabies vaccine which made it safe to bring pets into our homes. Rabbits have a similar anatomy and physiology to humans, especially their cardiovascular system, and…
Visit Species PageHamsters are important in many research areas, including cancer, reproduction, virology, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Hamsters and humans metabolize fats and sugars in similar ways, leading to susceptibility to atherosclerosis and diabetes. When fed high fat diets, hamsters’ LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) will elevate, as in humans, and lead…
Visit Species PageDogs, although one of the least common animals needed for research, are among the most important. Many cancers in dogs are identical, or almost identical, to human cancers. The cancer in dogs often develops faster, making them an ideal model to see if a certain therapy is effective. Many breeds…
Visit Species PageBecause guinea pigs are similar to humans in the symptoms and immune response they have to bacterial infections, they have been studied for more than 200 years. They have contributed to advances in treating diseases that affect the lungs, ears, eyes, arteries, stomach, intestines, and those that are sexually transmitted.…
Visit Species PageOlder Melanoma Patients Respond Better to Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapies, Study Shows
Read MoreAll research animals, from tiny fish to curious monkeys, receive daily health checks. Pictured here are two baby rats being evaluated by their animal caregiver. Their eyes, ears, color, condition of fur and behavior are all assessed daily to ensure good health. These interactions also help build a positive relationship…
View and ShareCAMBRIDGE, Mass. — In 1993, Leonard Zon had 110 fish tanks and an idea. Zon, a professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard University, thought to study human diseases in zebrafish. The freshwater fish, native to the streams and rice paddies of India and Myanmar, struck him as…
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