Patent ID: 6864402
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: A01K,C12N

Abstract:
1. A method of making a chimeric mouse, comprising: a) creating an immunetolerant mouse lacking functional T and B cells and having a genome which comprises a urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene, expression of said uPA gene resulting in liver degeneration; b) repopulating the parenchyma of the degenerated liver by transplanting xenogenic mammalian hepatocytes that are a natural host for infection with one or more compatible hepatitis virus into said liver; and c) infecting the xenogenic mammalian hepatocytes with said one or more compatible hepatitis virus, said one or more compatible hepatitis virus selected from the group consisting of mammalian hepatitis A virus, hepatitis D virus coinfected with hepadnavirus, hepatitis E virus, hepatitis F virus and hepadnavirus, thereby making said chimeric mouse.