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Preclinical study in mice against COVID

We have developped a preclinical pipeline and thanks to the viral particles, COVID-19 mouse models, cohort production and BSL3 pipeline analysis we provide to you, you will be bale to assess a novel potential vaccine and treatment compounds for COVID-19. Further functional analysis and advanced readouts like organ histopathological analysis, multiplex assay profiling of cytokines and chemokines in lung and mouse serum etc. can be provided upon request too. A final infection profile report will be provided as a deliverable.

 

 

New tests

16S metagenomic gut microbiota analysis

Suggested primary analysis

See our Anatomopathology dedicated page to explore all our available tests.

Purpose

The measurement of various blood metabolites, ions, and enzymes provides a primary screen for  function of major metabolic organs such as kidney, liver, gastrointestinal tract, as well as for lipid and glucose homeostasis. 

A panel of parameters is proposed, including:

  • Electrolytes and ions: Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphate (PO4), iron (Fe), and bicarbonate (CO2).
  • Enzymatic activities: Alpha-amylase, aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipase, creatine kinase (CK).
  • Metabolites: glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid, total proteins, albumin, total bilirubin, triglycerides, free fatty acids, glycerol, total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, fructosamine, ketone bodies (B-HBA), transferrin, ferritin.

Biochem_Clinical Chemistry graph.jpg

Selected plasma chemistry data from female mice (N=20 per line) of common laboratory strains at different ages (Champy et al. Mammalian Genome 2008).  Error bars reflect ± SEM.

Equipment

These tests are performed with an AU-480 automated laboratory work station (Beckman Coulter France SAS, Villepinte, France).

Strain background references

Champy MF, Selloum M, Zeitler V, Caradec C, Jung B, Rousseau S, Pouilly L, Sorg T, Auwerx J. Genetic background determines metabolic phenotypes in the mouse. Mamm Genome. 2008 May;19(5):318-31. Epub 2008 Apr 5.

Purpose

Wound healing is a complex process requiring cell proliferation, extracellular matrix synthesis, inflammation, and contraction. The biological processes involved can reveal defects in immune response, nutrition, metabolism, or cell division. Wound healing analyses are performed on skin, which is a large and accessible organ, using full thickness excision method.

Recommendations

At least, 15 mutant mice versus 15 littermate control mice are required for relevant results.

Deliverables

Gross evaluation (healing rate and wound aspect evaluation) 

At each time point

  • Wound size and shape
  • Wound aspect
  • Edema formation and evolution
  • Presence of re-epithelialization
  • Curves of wounds surface along the time.

Anapath_Ratio_wound_surface_reference_curve_1.pngReference curve for ratio wound surface

Histological evaluations

  • H & E staining (standard evaluation and fibroblast morphology)
  • Anti-neutrophil/granulocyte IHC staining
  • Anti-macrophage IHC staining
  • Anti-vascular endothelial IHC staining
  • Masson’s trichrome staining for fibroses

Anapath_Wound_Anti_neutrophil_staining.pngAnti-neutrophil staining (red) after wound healing.

See our Immunoprofiling dedicated page to explore all our available tests.

BSL3

Purpose

Controlling infectious diseases requires understanding of the relationships between immune cells and pathogens.

Most current studies to understand infectious processes rely on models requiring

  • Infection of cell culture or explants
  • Analysis of pathological phenotypes induced after prior fixation of infected samples obtained from infected mice. The possibility of carrying out those manipulations in a protected confined environment avoids the tissues fixation steps which often impair the possibility of obtaining high-quality anatomical and cellular information. However, very few laboratories are capable of carrying out these experiments.

The Biosafety Level 3 Containment Facility (BSL3) has special engineering and containment features that allow investigators to work safely with pathogens classified as risk group 2 or 3. This facility consists of three laboratory suites corresponding to an animal housing room, a laboratory for in vitro experiments and a bio-imaging area.

Equipments

  • Through PHENOMIX program, we equipped the BSL3 module with a multiphoton confocal microscope that is specially designed to operate in such a confined environment.
  • The Infrastructure program PHENOMIN enabled us to acquire a small animal imaging bioluminescence system IVIS III.
  • Finally, the Infectiopole-Sud program provided us a mouse housing cage system adapted to BSL3 conditions and a cryostat.

Phenotyping tools

All instruments are accessible to trained users based on the scientific and regulatory rules established by scientific and biosecurity and safety manager of BSL3. Although the BSL3 platform was only fully operational in May 2015, it already permitted to set up

  • Vaccine assays,
  • Real-time imaging of immune responses in mice challenged by pathogens,
  • An infection-immunophenotyping analysis pipeline,
  • To test the ability of adjuvants to enhance vaccine efficacy in a mouse model of infection.

Diseases investigation and models

Real-time imaging studies of immune responses in mice challenged by pathogens such as Salmonella or Brucella infection have led to the development of an immunophenotyping analytical pipeline devoted to infection in synergy with our Immunophenotyping module. The analysis of organ distribution of biomolecules engineered to transport and deliver nucleic acids on living animals using an IVIS Lumina III device is also developed in the frame of a contract with a biotech company. Therefore, we can visualize the spread of infection in vivo, isolate and characterize the pathogens, and analyze phenotypic and functional modification of immune system in the course of infections by advanced live-imaging and flow and mass cytometry.

Access and conditions of equipment use

We provide a broad range of instruments and services for academic and industrial customers. An experienced staff of scientists, technical experts and instrument specialist provides instructions for the design, execution and analysis of standardized multiparametric flow, spectral, mass cytometry and advanced microscopy based studies. All these cutting-edge equipment are technically and operationally enrolled in a regular maintenance program with their commercial providers. Moreover, instrument specialists at PHENOMIN are dedicated to the maintenance and tuning of the instruments on a daily basis. The characterization of the cytometer status and performance using CS&T beads for cytometer set up and tracking system, ensure reproducible performance and instrument sensitivity on a day to day basis. All experiments are standardized using applications setting in order to achieve: (1) high consistency of results over time and (2) facilitate data analysis and results validation. All data are archived and stored on dedicated servers. Depending on the technical complexity and availability, the equipment can be handled by our experts or made available for use to trained customers. PHENOMIN has set up an on line instrument tutorial for training external users. PHENOMIN applies two types of price: one for its academic clients on full cost basis and the other one for its industrial customers taking into consideration intellectual property and the transfer of know-how.

Purpose

Real-time imaging studies of immune responses in mice challenged by pathogens (Salmonella infection model) and infection-immunophenotyping analysis pipeline in synergy with immunophenotyping CIPHE facility.

Purpose

Set up vaccine assays and test the ability of adjuvants to enhance vaccine efficacy in a mouse model of infection.

Models

Purpose

Exploration of airway inflammation and/or airway responsiveness in House Dust Mite-induced lung inflammation.

Equipment

Advia120
Cytospin 4
Whole-body barometric plethysmograph (EMKA Technologies, Paris, France)

Recommendations

Number of animals - inflammation: 8 mice/gender/genotype

Number of animals - airway responsiveness: 12 mice/gender/genotype

 

Respi_HDM induced asthma model 1 graph Respi_HDM induced asthma model 2 graph

Respi_HDM induced asthma model 3 graph Respi_HDM induced asthma model 4 graph

Purpose

Exploration of airway inflammation and airway responsiveness in LPS-induced inflammation model.

Strain background references

Respi_LPS induced lung inflammation 1 graph

Respi_LPS induced lung inflammation 2 graph

Equipment

Advia120
Cytospin 4
Whole-body barometric plethysmograph (EMKA Technologies)

Recommendations

Number of animals - inflammation: 8 mice/gender/genotype
Number of animals - airway responsiveness: 12 mice/gender/genotype

Purpose

We are able to induce eosinophilic inflammation of the lung by presensitizing then exposing the lung to ovalbumin. This can be monitored by whole-body plethysmography, and examined terminally by cytology and cytokine analyses of BALF, immunoglobulin levels in blood and histology. 

Radioisotopic imaging

Suggested secondary analysis

Purpose

Identification of specific bacterial loads present in the feces of mice by virtue of quantitative ribosomal 16S DNA sequencing.

For more details, please see our Microbia profiling dedicated section.

See our Gene expression analysis dedicated page to explore our different related tests.

See our In vivo Viral Transduction dedicated page to explore our frequently used vectors and delivery modes including stereotactic admininistration (intraventricular and cerebellar)

 

Food challenge

Purpose

With several months notice, we can procure and provide a variety of different restriction diets for nutritional analyses in conjuction with our other analyses.

Optical imaging

Purpose

Bioluminescence imaging is based on the detection of light emitted as a result of an enzymatic reaction involving a couple “enzyme / substrate”, usually “luciferase / luciferin”. When the enzyme is introduced into systems that are not naturally bioluminescent (cells, bacteria, transgenic animals), these systems play the role of reporter gene and allow to address many biological issues such as gene expression, cell proliferation (cancer) or bacterial dissemination (infectious diseases), for example. A dedicated camera collects emitted photons and the signal is processed to obtain images.

Bioluminescence is performed with IVIS Lumina systems and can be carried out under BSL3 conditions.

Some examples of applications :

  • Monitoring of tumor proliferation and metastasis (bioluminescent tumor cells)
  • Drug efficiency
  • Analysis of organ distribution of biomolecules engineered to transport and deliver nucleic acids on living animals

Equipment

IVIS Lumina III (Perkin Elmer)

Our available bioluminescent tumor cells:

Murine cell lines:
  • 4T1 (mammary)
  • B16F10 (melanoma)
  • LL2 (lung)H
Human cell lines:
  • PC3 (prostate)
  • HCT116 (colon)
  • HT29 (colon)
  • MDA MB231 (breast)
  • MCF7 (breast)
  • MiaPaCa2 (pancreas)
  • H460 (lung)
  • A549 (lung)
  • U87 (brain)
  • OVCAR3 (ovary) In progress
  • SKOV-3 (ovary) In progress
  • 786O (kidney)

Purpose

Fluorescence is based on the excitation of a fluorophore then detection of emitted light. The incident light illuminates the fluorophore with one given wavelength that in return emits photons of longer wavelengths. Thus, fluorescence imaging needs a light source to excite the fluorophore within the targeted tissue, combined with a spectral filter to select the excitation wavelength, a second filter that only allows passage of the emitted fluorescence and finally a detector that detects the signal.

Fluorescence is performed with IVIS Lumina systems as planar epi-fluorescence mainly in the near infra-red wavelengths. Imaging can be performed in vivo (superficial foci) or ex vivo (organs).

Some examples of applications:

  • Integrins targeting with fluo RGD targeting probe
  • Cell/tumor targeting with fluo antibodies

Models and Challenges

Purpose

Dextran-sulphate sodium salt (DSS) provision in drinking water elicits a reversible colonic abrasion and inflammation. This is proposed as a first-line examination where inflammatory stimulation may be dysregulated.

Purpose

Exploration of airway inflammation and/or airway responsiveness in House Dust Mite-induced lung inflammation.

Equipment

Advia120
Cytospin 4
Whole-body barometric plethysmograph (EMKA Technologies, Paris, France)

Recommendations

Number of animals - inflammation: 8 mice/gender/genotype

Number of animals - airway responsiveness: 12 mice/gender/genotype

 

Respi_HDM induced asthma model 1 graph Respi_HDM induced asthma model 2 graph

Respi_HDM induced asthma model 3 graph Respi_HDM induced asthma model 4 graph

Purpose

Exploration of airway inflammation and airway responsiveness in LPS-induced inflammation model.

Strain background references

Respi_LPS induced lung inflammation 1 graph

Respi_LPS induced lung inflammation 2 graph

Equipment

Advia120
Cytospin 4
Whole-body barometric plethysmograph (EMKA Technologies)

Recommendations

Number of animals - inflammation: 8 mice/gender/genotype
Number of animals - airway responsiveness: 12 mice/gender/genotype

Purpose

We are able to induce eosinophilic inflammation of the lung by presensitizing then exposing the lung to ovalbumin. This can be monitored by whole-body plethysmography, and examined terminally by cytology and cytokine analyses of BALF, immunoglobulin levels in blood and histology. 

Purpose

With several months notice, we can procure and provide a variety of different restriction diets for nutritional analyses in conjuction with our other analyses.

See our In vivo Viral Transduction dedicated page to explore our frequently used vectors and delivery modes including stereotactic admininistration (intraventricular and cerebellar)