Natural infection of murine norovirus in conventional and specific pathogen-free laboratory mice

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection and quantification of IgM and IgG serum antibodies to mouse polyomavirus (MPV). To evaluate the potential of this ELISA for the screening of laboratory rodents, serum samples from specific pathogen free (SPF) BALB/c RIVM mice, collected after experimental intraperitoneal infection with MPV, were tested by this assay. The results were compared with those obtained from the same sera in an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and a haemagglutination inhibition assay (HIA). The ELISA proved to be the most sensitive of the 3 assays, allowing the detection of seropositive animals within 7 days post-infection and giving antibody titres that were about 4 to 8 times higher than those found in the IFA and HIA respectively. More than 5000 serum samples from non-infected specific pathogen free laboratory mice and 90 from 10 SPF N:NIH/RIVM mice experimentally infected with K-papovavirus, were negative in this assay, thus confirming the specificity of the ELISA

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Natural Colonization of Laboratory Mice withStaphylococcus aureusPrimes a Systemic Immune Response

10.1101/114314 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Schulz ◽

Dorothee Grumann ◽

Patricia Trübe ◽

Kathleen Pritchett-Corning ◽

Sarah Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virulence Gene ◽

Host Adaptation ◽

Specific Pathogen Free ◽

Laboratory Mice ◽

Systemic Immune Response ◽

Vaccine Candidates ◽

Infection Models ◽

Natural Hosts ◽

Specific Pathogen ◽

Infection Experiments

AbstractBackgroundWhether mice are an appropriate model forS.aureusinfection and vaccination studies is a matter of debate, because they are not considered as natural hosts ofS. aureus.Sparked by an outbreak of S.aureusinfections in laboratory mice, we investigated whether laboratory mice are commonly colonized with S.aureusand whether this might impact on infection experiments.MethodsWe characterized 99S. aureusisolates from laboratory mice (spatyping, virulence gene PCR), and quantified murine antibodies using FlexMap technology.ResultsSpecific-pathogen-free mice from various vendors were frequently colonized withS. aureus(0-21%).S. aureuswas readily transmitted from murine parents to offspring, which became persistently colonized. Most murine isolates belonged to the lineage CC88 (54%). Murine strains showed features of host adaptation, such as absence ofhlb-converting phages and superantigen genes, as well as enhanced coagulation of murine plasma. Importantly,S. aureuscolonization induced a systemic IgG response specific for numerousS. aureusproteins, including several vaccine candidates.ConclusionLaboratory mice are natural hosts ofS. aureusand, therefore, provide better infection models than previously assumed. Pre-exposure to S.aureusis a possible confounder inS. aureusinfection and vaccination studies.

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Laboratory Animal Research Centre (Larc) “A Specific Pathogen Free Rodent Facility” - Covid – 19 Pandemic Response Plan

University of the Future: Re-Imagining Research and Higher Education ◽

10.29117/quarfe.2020.0285 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Muralitharan Shanmugakonar ◽

Vijay Kanth Govindharajan ◽

Kavitha Varadharajan ◽

Hamda Al-Naemi

Keyword(s):

Laboratory Animal ◽

Animal Research ◽

Research Centre ◽

Functional Requirement ◽

Specific Pathogen Free ◽

Specific Pathogen ◽

Response Plan ◽

Pandemic Response ◽

Operational Plan

Laboratory Animal Research Centre (LARC) has developed an early emergency operational plan for COVID-19 pandemic situation. Biosafety and biosecurity measures were planned and implemented ahead of time to check the functional requirement to prevent the infection. Identified necessary support for IT, transport, procurement, finance, admin and research to make the operations remotely and successfully.

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Curcumin reduces enteric isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2α and prostaglandin GF2α in specific pathogen-free Leghorn chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90679-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Victor M. Petrone-Garcia ◽

Raquel Lopez-Arellano ◽

Gabriela Rodríguez Patiño ◽

Miriam Aide Castillo Rodríguez ◽

Daniel Hernandez-Patlan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Oxidation Products ◽

Specific Pathogen Free ◽

Post Challenge ◽

Eimeria Maxima ◽

Lipid Oxidation Products ◽

Challenge Control ◽

Specific Pathogen

AbstractThe purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate and determine the concentration of prostaglandin GF2α (PGF2α) and isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α in plasma and intestine of specific pathogen-free (SPF) Leghorn chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima, with or without dietary supplementation of curcumin using solid‐phase microextraction and ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Eighty 1-day-old male SPF chickens were randomly allocated to one of four groups with four replicates (n = 5 chickens/replicate). Groups consisted of: (1) Control (no challenge), (2) Curcumin (no challenge), (3) Eimeria maxima (challenge), and (4) Eimeria maxima (challenge) + curcumin. At day 28 of age, all chickens in the challenge groups were orally gavaged with 40,000 sporulated E. maxima oocysts. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the groups regardless of the treatment or challenge with E. maxima. Enteric levels of both isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α and PGF2α at 7 days and 9 days post-challenge were significantly increased (P < 0.01) compared to the non-challenge control chickens. Interestingly, the enteric levels of both isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α and PGF2α at 7 days post-challenge were significantly reduced in chickens fed curcumin, compared to control chickens challenge with E. maxima. At 9 days post-challenge, only levels of isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α in the enteric samples were significantly reduced in chickens challenged with E. maxima supplemented with curcumin, compared with E. maxima challenge chickens. No differences of isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α or PGF2α were observed in plasma at both days of evaluation. Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the challenge control or chickens challenge with E. maxima and supplemented with curcumin at both times of evaluation. The results of this pilot study suggests that the antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin reduced the oxidative damage and subsequent intestinal mucosal over-production of lipid oxidation products. Further studies to confirm and extend these results in broiler chickens are required.

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