Animal Biohazard

Overview

The Animal Biohazard Core provides a state-of-the-art, safe and efficient biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratory for conducting experiments involving in vivo modeling of infectious diseases. The core staff has extensive experience in animal studies that use BSL2/3 pathogens including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. HIV transgenic mice are also used. The core will guide and support investigators in the use of in vivo models of infectious diseases caused by virulent pathogens.

Services

Infection of mice via various routes (respiratory, intravenous, intracranial and intraperitoneal)
Surgical dissection of infected mice for the procurement of tissues
Preparation of tissues for histological, immunohistochemical and laser capture microdissection studies
Preparation of cells from tissues for flow cytometric analysis
Provision of specific transgenic and knockout mice (including HIV transgenic mice)
Non-invasive quantitative assessment of pathogen loads in infected hosts using the Caliper in vivo imaging system.
Assessment of cognitive function of small animals through the CFAR Animal Behavioral Study Facility.
Assistance in experimental design, animal procedures and data interpretation
Training of researchers to conduct independent animal studies
Provision of biohazard barrier housing and husbandry for mice infected with BSL2/3 pathogens