Abstract:

Domestic ferrets have become a valuable model in interdisciplinary biomedical research due to their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans， particularly in the respiratory and nervous systems. These characteristics enable ferrets to address critical research questions that rodent models cannot adequately resolve. Recent advancements in genome editing technology have made it possible to efficiently create genetically modified ferrets， significantly expanding their applications in both basic and translational studies. Ferrets strike a balance between practicality and biological relevance， bridging the gap between rodent and non-human primate models. This review highlighted the unique biological features of ferrets and their utility in modeling human pathogen infections， respiratory and neurological disorders， as well as complex diseases that are poorly replicated in rodent models. It discussed challenges associated with ferret research and outline future directions to enhance their value， aiming to advance the understanding of human diseases and expand the development of novel therapeutics.

Key words: ferrets, biomedical research, genome editing, disease models

摘要：

雪貂因其与人类在解剖和生理上的相似性，尤其是呼吸系统和神经系统，使其成为跨学科生物医学研究的理想模型。近年来，基因组编辑技术的进步使得高效创建基因修饰雪貂成为可能，极大地拓宽了其在基础和转化研究中的应用。雪貂的生物学特性使其在实验适用性与物种代表性层面达到了双重优化，填补了啮齿类动物和非人灵长类动物模型的空白。综述重点介绍了雪貂独特的生物学特性及其在模拟人类病原体感染、呼吸系统和神经系统疾病以及啮齿类动物模型无法有效复制的复杂疾病中的应用，讨论了与雪貂研究相关的挑战及未来提升其应用价值的方向，旨在增进对人类疾病的理解和扩展新型疗法的开发。

关键词: 雪貂, 生物医学研究, 基因组编辑, 疾病模型