Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in humans. Murine models of human UTI are vital experimental tools that have helped to elucidate UTI pathogenesis and advance knowledge of potential treatment and infection prevention strategies. Fundamentally, several variables are inherent in different murine models, and understanding the limitations of these variables provides an opportunity to understand how models may be best applied to research aimed at mimicking human disease. In this review, we discuss variables inherent in murine UTI model studies and how these affect model usage, data analysis and data interpretation. We examine recent studies that have elucidated UTI host-pathogen interactions from the perspective of gene expression, and review new studies of biofilm and UTI preventative approaches. We also consider potential standards for variables inherent in murine UTI models and discuss how these might expand the utility of models for mimicking human disease and uncovering new aspects of pathogenesis.

中文翻译：

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小鼠尿道感染以模拟人类疾病：实用性，含义和局限性。

尿路感染（UTI）是人类最常见的细菌感染之一。人类UTI的鼠模型是至关重要的实验工具，有助于阐明UTI的发病机理，并提高了对潜在治疗和感染预防策略的了解。从根本上说，不同的鼠类模型固有有几个变量，了解这些变量的局限性提供了一个机会，可以了解如何将模型最好地应用于旨在模拟人类疾病的研究。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了鼠类UTI模型研究中固有的变量，以及它们如何影响模型的使用，数据分析和数据解释。我们检查了最近的研究，从基因表达的角度阐明了UTI宿主-病原体的相互作用，并审查了生物膜和UTI预防方法的新研究。