Gnotobiotic Core
Germ-free mouse and isolator services
The UCD AMC gnotobiotic core provides investigators germ free (axenic/sterile) and gnotobiotic (flora-defined) mice. Our core facility includes 4 large and 8 small soft-sided vinyl isolators and our new Tecniplast iso-positive ventilated rack. Routine quality control testing is tperformed o confirm germ free status of our mice and isolators.
Since establishing the facility in 2015, we have worked with over 15 investigators across the UCD-AMC campus. As we continue to grow, we welcome inquiries from the UCD-AMC campus, the CU system, and external academic and non-academic groups.
Equipment:
- We breed and maintain germ free mice in flexible film (softwall) isolator bubbles
- We maintain our experimental mice on our Tecniplast iso-positive rack and caging system, which is designed for gnotobiotic and germ free animals
- These cages provide HEPA filters at cage level and are airtight with positive pressure for ideal bioexclusion which allows us to have multiple studies on the same rack
Services:
We are a full service facility with dedicated research staff who perform colony maintenance, husbandry, quality assurance, experimental manipulations, and specimen collections. Our staff coordinate with individual investigators prior to each experiment to review experimental plans and provide detailed procedure reports. A cost quote for each experiment can be provided upon request. Our current fiscal year 2023 prices are listed here.
- Available strains: C57BL/6, Swiss Webster. If you are interested in a germ free strain available elsewhere, we can have shipped into our facility.
- Technical services: Oral gavage, injections, blood collection, fecal sample collection, mouse weight, plus more
- Experimental set-up: Preparation of sterile water formulations (e.g. DSS), diet, gavage innocula, etc.
- Isolator set-up: Most experiments can be performed on our Tecniplast rack. We have maintained study mice germ free in this housing system for up to 3 months. However, we do have vinyl isolators that can be dedicated for an investigator if needed.
- Re-derivation: Strains and transgenic mice can be re-derived into germ free isolators by caesarean section and cross fostering.
Dr. Lanis is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology. She took over as director of the CU-Anschutz Gnotobiotic Core Facility in 2024 with generous support from the School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, and the Department of Immunology. Dr. Lanis oversees the daily functions of the facility and is available to other investigators for guidance on experimental design, execution, and data interpretation.