Fungal Keratitis (FK) Model

Model Description

Fungal keratitis (FK), a vision-threatening corneal infection prevalent among agricultural workers, is predominantly caused by Fusarium and Aspergillus species following plant-related trauma. Our model replicates human FK pathophysiology through controlled Fusarium solani inoculation, achieving:

• Rapid infection progression: Corneal opacity ≥Grade 2 within 48 hours
• Stromal invasion: Fungal hyphae penetration confirmed by confocal microscopy
• High clinical relevance: Mimics trauma-induced infections in young adults
•  

Key Advantages:
✓ Species-specific pathogenicity: Fusarium solani (ATCC 36031)
✓ Standardized scarification protocol: 95% infection success rate
✓ Drug validation compatibility: Responsive to natamycin/voriconazole

Applications

• Antifungal drug efficacy testing (azoles, polyenes)
• Immune response modulation studies (neutrophil recruitment, cytokine profiling)
• Novel diagnostic tool development (PCR-based fungal detection)
• Corneal healing mechanism research

Modeling Protocol —— Corneal Scarification & Fungal Inoculation

1. Pre-op Screening:

Slit-lamp exam to exclude mice with pre-existing ocular abnormalities

2. Infection Induction:

• Corneal scarification: Create 1mm-diameter cross-shaped stromal scratches with sterile blade
• Fungal inoculation: Apply 5μL Fusarium solani conidial suspension (1×10⁶ CFU/mL)
• Post-op ofloxacin ointment BID ×2 days

3. Monitoring:

• Daily slit-lamp scoring (opacity/edema/ulceration)
• Humane endpoint: Perforation risk or severe inflammation

Validation & Testing

Technical Advantages