SERCEB Aerobiology and Animal Models Core

Southeast Regional Center of Excellence for Emerging Infections and Biodefense (SERCEB) Aerobiology and Animal Models Core provides animal models using BSL3 NIH priority pathogens to respond to the scientific needs of investigators.

Core services include local animal approval, animal acquisition, growth and characterization of inoculum, delivery and confirmation of challenge dose, animal monitoring, serum and tissue collection, determination of colony-forming units or plaque-forming units, and data analysis. The Core provides well-characterized challenges by the aerosol route, either whole body or nose-only, and by other routes as appropriate to scientific hypotheses.

The Core registers and acquires Select Agents in the RBL, and maintains the inventory for these agents as required by the Select Agent Final Rule. The Core coordinates with the SERCEB BSL3 Host-Pathogen Interaction Flow and Imaging Core located in the RBL to provide live BSL3 cell sorting and analysis, BSL3 whole-body imaging using the IVIS system with both luminescence and fluorescence capabilities, multiplex cytokine determination, and other immunological studies.

The Core has established and validated murine models for bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, tuberculosis, West Nile Virus, and tularemia. A murine model for Yellow Fever Virus is in development. Other models will be developed over the course of the grant period using other agents and other mammalian species, based on the research needs of SERCEB investigators. The Core will be available to provide surge capacity to local, state, and federal officials in the event of a public health emergency.

The Core has conducted research using the NIAID priority pathogens Y. pestis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (sensitive, MDR, and XDR), Francisella tularensis, West Nile Virus, and Yellow Fever Virus to support ten funded SERCEB components: