Flexible Film Isolators
The use of isolators facilitates sterile animal housing and manipulation. Core staff are experts in the use of these systems for rodent husbandry and scientific study.
The Baylor College of Medicine Gnotobiotics Core is operated by the Center for Comparative Medicine in support of the college’s microbiome research initiatives. The facility was established in 2013 and the facility’s seven full time employees currently operate over 100 flexible film isolators in support of approximately 25 academic laboratories at Baylor College of Medicine elsewhere in the Texas Medical Center.
We are supported in part by the Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Center, an NIH-funded (P30DK056338) digestive disease research core center designed to serve basic and clinical scientists at institutions within the Texas Medical Center, including Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and MD Anderson Cancer Center. The facility is part of the center’s Gastrointestinal Experimental Model Systems core.
Our Services
The Gnotobiotic Rodent Facility offers the following services:
- Production of Germ-Free Rodents
We maintain breeding colonies of germ-free rodents in isolators and provide them to investigators at cost. Colonies are monitored by microbiological culture and 16S qPCR to ensure microbial health status. - Gnotobiotic Rodent Housing
Gnotobiotic animals require specialized housing to ensure sterility and prevent contamination. We provide secure, specialized housing for in flexible film isolators and hermeticallysealed individually HEPA-filtered caging systems. - Study Development Consultation
We partner with investigators to design robust studies and novel gnotobiotic approaches tailored to their research goals. Our primary goal is to facilitate understanding of the technical challenges and operational limitations of working with these models. - Technical Services and Manipulations
Our full-service facility employs 7 full-time staff trained to implement all aspects of your research plan. We offer a range of technical services including: gavage, injections, special diet/water administration, data collection, and study end-point monitoring. - Creation of Germ-free Lines of Interest
We can rederive SPF lines to germ-free status and maintain colonies long-term in isolators. Our highly trained staff can generate germ-free mouse and rat lines to support your research needs. - Training and Education
We provide training for individuals or teams looking to establish their own gnotobiotic practices. Training includes: basic isolator husbandry & mechanics, managing gnotobiotic projects, and troubleshooting.