Drug Discovery


How one mouse strain is revolutionising drug discovery


Inbred mice are critical tools in biomedical research and one particular strain, known as C57BL/6 (Black 6 or B6, for short), is rapidly becoming the standard model for many applications and revolutionising modern research. Understanding the B6 mouse, its origins, characteristics and potential is required to make full and appropriate use of this model in research and drug discovery.


T


he B6 mouse is a versatile and powerful tool in preclinical research. These mice form the basis for many research models, including those in the fields of metabolic disease, obesity, dia- betes, immune disorders, immuno-oncology and neurobiology, among others. No single animal model is as versatile as the B6 mouse, and its power is enhanced by the rich diversity of genetically-engi- neered models (GEMs) on the B6 background. These combined properties make the B6 a vital tool for research efforts throughout the spectrum of drug discovery and development.


Rise in B6 usage


The B6 is now the most popular and significant mouse in research. Since 1990, the use of B6 mice has grown dramatically, and annual B6 citations in the scientific literature have risen by more than 800% during this period, according to Google Scholar. While this increase is partially driven by publication trends and increased biomedical fund- ing, there has been a substantial shift toward using B6 mice versus other mouse strains. Out of the over 450 inbred mouse strains that have been developed, B6 now accounts for more than 60% of all published mouse studies, as compared to only 36% in 1990.


Drug Discovery World Fall 2017


Origins and diversity of B6 mice


The history of the B6 dates to the 1920s and 1930s, when researchers sought a model in which all individual mice were genetically identical. To accomplish this, the B6 strain was created by extensive inbreeding over many generations. Every modern B6 mouse is a direct descendant


39


In response to rising demand for this valuable model, numerous vendors throughout the world now produce and distribute B6 mice for pharma- ceutical, biotech and academic research. There are at least 18 different types of B6 mice (known as B6 substrains) that are commercially avail- able. These B6 substrains are all distantly related and, although similar, can differ in several important aspects. Understanding the ori- gins and diversity of these substrains is important in choosing an appropriate B6 substrain for a successful research project.


By Dr Philip E. Dubé


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72