What kind of mouse model should I use in these studies?

Question

1.    What kind of mouse model will you use in these studies? Briefly explain.

a.     You want to study the innate immune response against a pathogen.

b. You want to study the adaptive immune response against a pathogen

Answer 1

Hi there, to approach this question it's important to understand two big picture concepts this question is assessing.

Mouse models refer to genetic knockout mice who lack very specific genes (intended controls) that express certain proteins, factors, etc.

The question is aiming to assess your ability on differentiating the genetic basis differences between the innate immune system vs the adaptive immune system. Without giving the entire information away and allowing you to go over your notes for each of the two main immune system responses, I challenge you to think about the molecular and genetic basis differences between the two pathways of the immune system and WHAT genes you would knockout to prevent that mouse model from having an innate or adaptive immune system!