Core 1: GENETICALLY-DEFINED MICROBE CORE

Director: John Kappes, Ph.D. 
Co-Director: Charles O. Elson, M.D. 
Units: Bacterial Unit , Viral Unit

The Bacterial Unit acquires, characterizes and facilitates standardization of defined commensal bacteria and/or their recombinant products for in vitro and in vivo systems.  The Unit also provides genetically-defined or genetically-manipulated bacteria for colonization of germ-free animals.  In addition, the Unit provides bacterial 16S rDNA analysis to characterize and provide control quality of defined organisms.  Such analysis is a useful check that gnotobiotic mice with a defined flora are colonized only with the intended organism(s).  This method does not require culture and thus is ideal for analysis of enteric bacteria, many of which have never been cultured.  The use of standardized, genetically-defined strains in in vitro and in vivo systems allows investigators to build data sets that can be compared and assembled into a larger context of understanding.

The Retroviral Unit provides services and expertise in virus vector gene transfer and expression.  The Unit centralizes and makes available innovative genetic manipulation technologies, particularly lentiviral vectors, that otherwise would not be broadly accessible.  The Unit constructs viral vectors with genes of interest and genetically engineered recombinant cell lines and assay systems to address specific questions regarding HIV mucosal interaction.  By providing specific expertise and the high cost equipment required for this technology, the Unit facilitates and broadens the research capabilities of investigators in digestive diseases.

Core 1 Services    •    Core 1 Services Request Form 

Core 2: Molecular Pathology  and HUMAN Cell/Tissue Core

Director: Robin G. Lorenz, M.D., Ph.D. 
Co-Director: Lesley E. Smythies, Ph.D.

Units:  Molecular Pathology Unit, Human Cell and Tissue Unit

The Molecular Pathology and Human Cell/Tissue Core provides expertise on the structural biology of the gastrointestinal tract mucosa.  The Molecular Pathology Unit under Dr. Lorenz focuses on the detection of how mucosal structures and cells interact, such as the “cross-talk” between the epithelium and lamina propria stromal (mesenchymal) cells, using techniques that include  immunohistochemistry.  This Unit is an important resource for rapid processing of tissue specimens and for providing investigators with newly developed methods, protocols and reagents for labeling tissue sections.  The Human Cell and Tissue Unit under Dr. Lesley Smythies provides purified, primary, human mucosal cells and mucosal cell/tissue products.  Thus, the function of Core 2 is to provide (1) service and training in the morphologic analysis of mucosal tissues and (2) purified primary human intestinal cells to investigators for studies that seek to elucidate the interactions between mucosal cells and commensal bacteria, pathogenic organisms, and the products of these organisms.

Core 2 Services     •     Core 2 Services Request Form

Core 3: GNOTOBIOTIC AND GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED MOUSE CORE

Director: Jeremy Foote PhD, DVM, DACVP