Gnotobiotic Animal Core

Univ Of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY The CGIBD Gnotobiotic Core has been an integral Center component since 1988. The Core is a highly utilized resource that provides CGIBD members with cost-effective germ-free or selectively colonized mice (wild type, knockout and transgenic) to study resident microbial functional contributions to intestinal homeostasis vs inflammation, neoplasia, and infection. This world-class facility allows CGIBD members, their trainees, and collaborators access to 27 mouse strains, including wild-type, transgenic, knockout, and reporter mice. These mice are available in germ-free (GF) or gnotobiotic conditions. Investigators conduct cutting-edge studies by utilizing GF mice that are colonized with diverse microbial communities. These communities may consist of single bacterial species, bacterial mutants, defined consortia of murine or human bacteria, or complex fecal microbial communities from experimental mice or humans (microbiologically humanized mice). This allows for the investigation of disease pathogenesis and treatment in the context of dysbiosis. The two Gnotobiotic Core branches, one at UNC-Chapel Hill and the other at the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine, provide GF or gnotobiotic mice and associated technical services to CGIBD members, associate members, P/F recipients and new investigators at each location, as well as resources for members of other DDRCCs. The Specific Aims are: 1) Provide GF and gnotobiotic WT and mutant mice and tissues to CGIBD investigators and members of other DDRCCs. 2) Derive additional GF genetically engineered or WT mouse strains. 3) Consult with users to optimize experimental design and provide technical assistance for experiments. 4) Support new investigators to generate resources and preliminary data for their independent grant applications. 5) Optimize fecal transfer techniques using pooled feces from Crohn’s disease (CD) patients and mouse- adapted CD microbiota to create validated FMT techniques and a repository for CGIBD members to achieve more reproducible results. (New Core Services Development Aim). Since the last competing renewal, this Core provided over 7,000 gnotobiotic mice to 22 CGIBD members and associate members, 6 pilot/feasibility award recipients and 14 investigators at 7 other DDRCCs. We have developed highly reproducible humanized mouse models that have been used to create novel therapeutic approaches to manipulate the microbiota. This facility and the combined expertise of the Directors, Balfour Sartor, UNC-CH and Casey Theriot, NCSU provide Center members with an unparalleled resource to perform innovative, mechanistic research to identify microbial contributions to bioresilience.