Scientists usually use animal models when studying Parkinson’s disease because these models mimic the disease well. They are limited, however, because they require either gene modifications or the injection of toxicants, which may not accurately represent how the disease occurs in humans.

But now, researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a model that uses a nontoxic way to generate the symptoms of Parkinson’s: infection with a virus called Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), a natural pathogen in mice.

Their study is a game changer because it proves that a simple viral infection can trigger the exact brain damage and physical disabilities in animal models that are seen in people with Parkinson’s disease — and it sets the stage for additional studies.

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