RESEARCH
Photo courtesy of William Santus
Our Research Goals
We use in-vitro models and small animal models to study how bacteria and fungi interact with each other, Salmonella, and the host.
GERM-FREE MICE
Our current setup in our dedicated room includes 2 breeding isolators, 2 experimental isolators for long-term experiments and 2 biosafety cabinets for short-term experiments.
Our mice are housed in the isolators. The mice are taken care of daily to ensure that they are well maintained.
Similar to an anaerobic chamber, we use flexible barriers and dedicated gloves to handle our mice.
We frequently perform internal quality control tests to ensure smooth operations.
Next to conventionally raised animals, we use animals that are devoid of any microbes (germ-free). We are the first laboratory at UIC to raise germ-free mice.
These animals can be selectively colonized with bacteria and fungi of interest. This allows us to understand relationships of these microbes and their interactions with the host in a less complex system.
In recent years work with germ-free animals has become essential for studies aiming to understand the diverse roles of the microbiome.