An animal model of neurodevelopmental damage: Neonatal Borna disease virus infection

Experimental research of human developmental behavioral disorders (DBDs) is a difficult undertaking for obvious ethical reasons. Animal models can help us study the pathogenesis of developmental alterations and search for new pharmacological treatments. However, since DBDs such as schizophrenia and autism are unique human conditions, there is a tendency to negate the feasibility of developing animal models. I,2 Indeed, animal models will always fall short of precisely mimicking human neuropsychiatric disorders. However, if we focus on more modest tasks, such as the mechanisms of abnormal brain maturation, we could address some of the important mysteries of these diseases. I,3 The notion that a useful animal model does not need to mimic all features of complex syndromes is more productive than a call for the comprehensive and faithful reflection of all key symptoms of a disease. In this way, modeling key pathogenic events and/or processes is feasible and achievable.