Upcoming Meetings & Events (2013)
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 Click Here to view our Upcoming Events Calendar.
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Ticks are Here!
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 BEI Resources announces the addition of five original tick species for vector/pathogen research acquired from the CDC Medical Entomology Labrotory:
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Catalog Number
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Vector
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Pathogen Competence
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NR-42510
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Ixodes scapularis
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Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia muris-like agent, Powassan virus, Babesia spp.
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NR-42511
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Ixodes ricinus
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Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia spp.
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NR-42512
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Rhipicephalus sanguineus
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Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia conorii, Ehrlichia canis
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NR-42513
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Dermacentor variabilis
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Rickettsia rickettsii, Francisella tularensis, Colorado tick fever virus
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NR-42514
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Amblyomma americanum
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Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Panola Mountain Ehrlichial agent
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CDC recommends handling naïve ticks from these species at ABSL2 containment in appropriate barrier protected facilities; pathogen research may require elevated ABSL containment. Check the BEI Vector Resources page for a list of other vectors and related reagents available through BEI Resources.
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Chikungunya Viruses - Now Available for Order
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 Chikungunya Viruses - Additional Strains Available
BEI Resources announces the addition of two novel BSL3 strains of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), R-91142 and 182/25, to the catalog of available items. CHIKV is a mosquito-borne alphavirus that is mainly associated with acute febrile illness. Strains R-91142 and 182/25 CHIKV are of Asian origin. Strain 182/25 is the recently developed vaccine candidate and the only CHIKV strain to be tested in humans. Coming soon to the BEI catalogue is the CHIKV African prototype strain, S-27.
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NR-13221
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Chikungunya Virus, R-91142 (cell lysate)
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NR-13222
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Chikungunya Virus, 181/25 (cell lysate)
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NR-13220
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Chikungunya Virus, strain S-27 (cell lysate) Coming soon!
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Resources for Trypanosome Research
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 Recent acquisitions in BEI Resources aim to contribute to research focused on understanding the mechanisms of disease and the development of novel therapeutic drugs for Trypanosome research. Such acquisitions include SSGCID clones, proteins and reference parasite strains used in genome and virulence studies. For more information on the availability of these materials please contact BEI Resources customer service.
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Catalog Number
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Organism
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Strain
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Comments
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NR-36197
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Trypanosoma brucei brucei
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STIB 247
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In vivo strain, causes chronic infection in mice
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NR-36198
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Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
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STIB 386
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In vivo strain, causes chronic infection in mice
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NR-36630
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Trypanosoma cruzi
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TcVT-1
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Isolated from chagasic dog in Virginia, USA
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NR-40347
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Trypanosoma cruzi
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Y strain (+luc)
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Luciferase-expressing transgenic strain
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NR-41946
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Trypanosoma brucei brucei
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TREU 927/4 (GUTat 10.1)
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Genome strain
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NR-41947
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Trypanosoma congolense
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IL3000
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Genome strain
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NR-41948
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Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense
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WRATat (stock LVH/75/USAMRU-K/18) (MVAT7)
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Classic strain, isolated from human patient, Kenya, 1975
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NR-42009
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Trypanosoma brucei
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Lister 427 VSG 221
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Wild type bloodstream form
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NR-42010
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Trypanosoma brucei
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Lister 427
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Wild type procyclic form
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NR-42011
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Trypanosoma brucei
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Lister 427 VSG 221 (TetR T7RNAP)
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Transgenic bloodstream form co-expressing TetR and T7RNAP
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NR-42012
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Trypanosoma brucei
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Lister 427 29-13 (TetR T7RNAP)
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Transgenic procyclic form co-expressing TetR and T7RNAP
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BEI Resources Fungi Collection is Growing!
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BEI Resources is working to expand the fungal collection so that researchers have a broader range of organisms and reagents for their work. BEI Resources currently has eight genus and species represented with several more currently going through the production pipeline. BEI Resources is actively encouraging depositors with medically relevant strains to deposit into the collection. If you are interested in depositing, please click here.
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Cloned lines of Toxoplasma gondii are now available from BEI Resources
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Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa that is the causal agent of toxoplasmosis. T. gondii is dominated by three widespread clonal lineages, referred to as types I, II, and III. The three major Toxoplasma lineages differ in a number of phenotypes, the best described of which is virulence in mice.  Recent studies have examined the genetic basis for these differences by mapping virulence in F1 progeny derived from crosses between the different T. gondii lineages.
BEI Resources houses various cloned lines selected from progeny of two parallel genetic crosses between a Type II parental strain (ME49 clone B7; NR-10150) and a Type III parental strain (CEP; NR-10151). Authentication of individual clones is performed through phenotypic and genotypic testing. This includes drug susceptibility to adenine arabinoside (ara-A) and sinefungin ( Fig. 1) and PCR-based analysis of the SAG1 and KT-850 loci ( Fig. 2).
Additional cloned lines from a Type I and Type III genetic cross will be available soon. In addition, BEI Resources offers more than 50 types of polyclonal antibodies to various Toxoplasma proteins. For technical questions about these products, or to learn more, please contact us by clicking here. |
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ATCC Adds ISO Guide 34:2000 and ISO 17025:2005 Accreditation to the ISO 9001:2000 Certification
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ATCC (American Type Culture Collection), the contract manager of BEI Resources, has announced its accreditation for ISO Guide 34:2000 and ISO 17025:2005, an international multi-industry standard specifically designed for producers of reference materials.
The ISO Guide 34 accreditation by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) builds upon the earlier certification for compliance with the ISO 9001:2000 standard for quality management systems received by ATCC in 2007. Biological reference materials produced under an ISO Guide 34-accredited process have confirmed identity, well-defined characteristics and an established chain of custody — qualities essential to their effectiveness as biological standards in research and development.
In gaining ISO recognition, ATCC joins a pioneering group of biological product organizations with ISO certification. Biological materials authenticated and preserved by ATCC, such as cell lines and microorganisms, are widely used as reference materials for research and product testing.
ATCC Senior Director for Quality, Compliance and Biosafety Barry Waters, PhD, remarked,“ISO 34 accreditation represents an objective measure of confidence in the consistency and quality of ATCC reference cultures. It expands ATCC’s ability to produce internationally recognized standards for biological research and development, including certified reference materials (CRMs).”
ISO 17025:2005 sets general requirements for the competence of laboratory testing and assures customers that the characterization and purity protocols used in the manufacture of products are precise, accurate and have repeatability. The scope of the accreditation includes specific tests or properties measured for microbial and cell cultures.
ISO 9001:2000 for quality management systems, ISO Guide 34 for reference material production and ISO 17025 for laboratory testing are among the standards promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a network of national standards institutes from 157 countries. ISO operates a Central Secretariat located in Geneva,Switzerland to coordinate the system.
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Registration to Receive Biosafety Level 4 Materials from BEI Resources Now Open
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BEI Resources has now opened up registration for Biosafety level 4 materials. Registration requirements and documents can be found by clicking here. Once registered, Level 4 registrants can view and order materials appropriate for their Biosafety Level 4 laboratories.
The Biosafety Level 4 collection will include viruses, RNA and inactivated antigens from Biosafety Level 4 agents. The viruses will only be available to qualified laboratories in the United States. The RNA and inactivated antigens will be available without a Biosafety Level 4 registration clearance. BEI Resources will continue to add more organisms and reagents to this collection in the coming years. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding registration or the Biosafety Level 4 Collection.
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The BEI Resources Website got a Make Over!
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BEI Resources is pleased to announce a new and improved website! We heard your feedback concerning difficult searches and long checkout times…and, we invite you to explore and discover our new dynamic search package, state-of-the-art shopping cart experience and enhanced product information pages for your items on interest.
Our new search engine provides the community with a user friendly interface in which to research, search, and order reagents. We will now be using the same search and navigation features of many of the world's largest internet sites. Some of the major search features include dynamic filter searching, Intuitive Auto-Complete Text Searches, Suggested Search Terms, Dynamic Clustering and multiple sorting parameters for result sets.
Your ordering experience is also vastly improved with our new Web Services E-Commerce software. No more waiting for your items to load to the shopping cart; with the new software, your checkout is fast and reliable. Look for all these updates today!
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Diarrheagenic E. coli organism panels
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Outbreaks of foodborne disease caused by E. coli bacteria have become a serious problem in this country. E. coli organism panels, genomic DNA, and technical information are now available to support research to detect, treat, and prevent foodborne diseases.
 In February of 2008, BEI Resources released the organism panel (NR-9545) composed of representatives of the diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes ETEC, EHEC, EPEC, EIEC and EAEC available for ordering. Genomic DNA panels from these organisms are also now available (NR-9546).
Supporting documentation includes strain propagation information and growth and morphology on certain selective and differential microbiological media (see figure to the right).
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M. tuberculosis knockout clone pools and companion DeADMAn microarray are now available
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 Dr. William Bishai , Dr. Gyanu Lamichhane, and colleagues from the Tuberculosis Animal Research and Gene Evaluation Taskforce (TARGET), supported by NIH/NIAID contract N01-AI30036 awarded to the Johns Hopkins University, have generated twenty M. tuberculosis knockout clone pools to facilitate analyses of gene function under in vivo conditions of interest to researchers. In addition, they collaborated with Dr. Robert Fleischmann and Dr. Scott Peterson and colleagues from the Pathogen Functional Genomics Resource Center, supported by NIH/NIAID contract N01-AI15447 awarded to the J. Craig Venter Institute, to develop the DeADMAn Microarray Version 1.0 as a complimentary reagent for use with the knockout clone pools.
One or more M. tuberculosis knockout clone pools containing genetically defined transposon mutants of interest (input pool) are used to infect an animal that is subsequently subjected to a stress condition. Mutants from the input pool and those recovered from the stressed animals (output pool) are identified by amplification of unique transposon junction sequences of each mutant. The competitive hybridization of the input and output pools to the DeADMAn microarray allows for the easy detection of mutants in the input pool and missing from the output pool. The 20 M. tuberculosis knockout clone pools (NR-15773 to NR-15792) and the DeADMAn Microarray Version 1.0 (NR-18958) are now available from BEI.
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New Monkeypox Virus Real-Time PCR Assay Discriminates Monkeypox Viruses from other Orthopox Viruses
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Monkeypox virus is transmissible to people and it has become the most important Orthopoxvirus infection in human beings since the eradication of smallpox in 1970s.
A Monkeypox Virus quantitative PCR assay (Figure 1) which preferentially detects Monkeypox viruses is now available through BEI Resources (NR-9351). This assay detects Monkeypox viruses at least 1000 fold more efficiently over most other Orthopox viruses or non-Orthopox viruses (Figure 2). Since Monkeypox virus and Vaccinia share considerable homology it is a critical advantage that this assay can detect Monkeypox strains at a minimum of 100 fold more efficiently over the other Vaccinia strains.
The qPCR Monkeypox assay includes the following components: primers, FAM labeled probe, and plasmid for a standard curve. Each vial of reagent can be used for approximately 96 reactions. For technical questions about this assay or to learn more, please contact our Technical Services Department.
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Recombinant B. anthracis spore proteins and polyclonal antibodies are now available
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 Bacillus anthracis are gram positive, spore-forming bacteria. The B. anthracis spore is covered with a balloon-like exosporium that is made up of multiple proteins including the immunodominant glycoprotein Bcl-A (1, 2). Current vaccine strategies have targeted the protective antigen (PA) protein which is an essential component of both lethal toxin and edema toxin. However, vaccines based on immunization with PA alone can result in varied levels of protection in the host (3). More recent research has suggested that an improved protective effect can be achieved by immunizing animals with a combination of PA and other proteins present in the exosporium when compared to immunization with PA alone (1, 4).
BEI Resources has just released recombinant exosporium proteins along with their complementary rabbit polyclonal antibodies. Each protein has been shown experimentally to react with the anti-spore polyclonal antibody 31101-01 (1). In addition, immunization of mice with the hypothetical protein p5303 or the structural protein BxpB in combination with PA showed enhanced protection against spore challenge (1).
Localization of B. anthracis spore proteins within the spore by immunoelectron microscopy. Spores were labeled, following embedding in 4% formaldehyde, by incubation with A) NR-10436 anti-GerQ polyclonal IgG, or B) anti-p5303 polyclonal IgG followed by a gold-labeled secondary antibody (1).
For technical questions about these products, or to learn more, please contact us by clicking here.
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Polyclonal Antibody
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NR-9578 Polyclonal antibody to BclA
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NR-10505 BA4499 Superoxide dismutase SODA1
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NR-12128 BA1489 Superoxide dismutase SOD15
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NR-12130 BA5699 Hypothetical protein p5303
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NR-12132 BA1237 Hypothetical exosporium protein BxpB
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References:
1. Cybulski, R.J., Sanz, P., McDaniel, D., Darnell, S., Bull, R.L., and O’Brien, A.D. Recombinant Bacillus anthracis spore proteins enhance protection of mice primed with suboptimal amounts of protective antigen. Vaccine 2008;26:4927-4939.
2. Sylvestre, P., Couture-Tosi, E., and Mock, M. A collagen-like surface glycoprotein is a structural component of the Bacillus anthracis exosporium. Mol Microbiol 2002;45(July(1)):5240-7.
3. Fellows, P.F., Linscott, M.K., Ivins, B.E., Pitt, M.L., Rossi, C.A., Gibbs, P.H. et al. Efficacy of a human anthrax vaccine in guinea pigs, rabbits and rhesus macaques against challenge by Bacillus anthracis isolates of diverse geographical origin. Vaccine 2001:19(April(23-24)):3241-7.
4. Brahmbhatt, T.N., Darnell, S.C., Carvalho, H.M., Sanz, P., Kang T.J., Bull, R. L., et. al. Recombinant exosporium protein BclA of Bacillus anthracis is effective as a booster for mice primed with suboptimal amounts of protective antigen. Infect Immun 2007;75 (November (11)):5240-7.
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Ferret Reagents available through BEI Resources
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In recent years, the ferret has proven to be an excellent animal model for the study of pathogenicity and transmissibility of influenza viruses (Journal of Virology 81 (13): 6890-9898 (July 2007)). Even the attachment of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in the lower respiratory track of humans is mimicked in the ferret model (Science 312 (5772): 5772 (April 21, 2006)). In like manner, ferrets are also being shown to be a good model for SARS research because they are susceptible to infection by the SARS coronavirus and can transmit the virus to uninfected animals (Nature 425: 915 (October 30, 2003)).
To support the research on these emerging infections, BEI Resources (under the direction of NIAID) will soon offer a vast array of tools for the use of the ferret model. In February of 2008, BEI Resources made available approximately 100 ferret immune gene primers that were produced under contract by the laboratory of Dr. David Kelvin (Head, Division of Experimental Therapeutics, University Health Network). In Spring 2008, BEI Resources will also offer a number of monoclonal antibodies against ferret immune antigens, also from Dr. Kelvin’s laboratory.
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Immortalized murine macrophages and microglial cell lines from TLR knockout mice available
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The Toll-like receptor (TLR) family is the essential recognition and signaling component of multicellular organisms against all the major classes of pathogens. The study of TLR signaling pathways has become a productive area of investigation for researchers interested in signal transduction during innate immunity and inflammation. Of interest to biodefense, the identification of TLRs, their ligands, and signaling events will provide insight into understanding the role of the innate immune response in infectious diseases such as anthrax, plague, tularemia, and smallpox. Knockout mice for many of these innate immune receptors and adaptor molecules are not always widely available. In addition, generation of such knockout animals requires significant human and economic resources.
BEI Resources houses a number of immortalized macrophage cell lines from knockout mice deficient in TLRs and their signaling molecules. Characterization of the immortalized cell lines has shown a deficiency in the production of cytokines upon stimulation with defined differential TLR ligands using ELISA (Fig. 1). .jpg) Use of this resource will enable the investigation of immune mechanisms against pathogens and evaluation of pharmacological agents. For a list of available cell lines or technical questions about these products, please contact us by clicking here.
Fig. 1. Secretion profiles of TNF among immortalized cell lines derived from knockout mice lacking the TLR adaptor molecules MAL/TIRAP and MyD88. Cells were stimulated with increasing concentrations of ligands against TLR2/6 (Pam2), TLR3 (PolyIC), and TLR4 (LPS). A, cytokine secretion in wild type and MAL/TIRAP -/- macrophages. B, cytokine secretion in wild type and MyD88 -/- microglial cells.
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Epsilon Toxin Reagents are now Available from BEI Resources
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Clostridium perfringens are gram positive, obligate anaerobes that produce multiple toxins. Type B and D strains, responsible for necrotic enteritis or enterotoxemia in animals, express Epsilon toxin encoded by the etx gene. This protein exerts its cytotoxic activity on sensitive cells by forming pores in the cell membrane resulting in a loss of cellular homeostasis. Epsilon toxin is a USDA and HHS select agent toxin and is included on the NIAIDlist of Category B priority pathogens.
BEI Resources has reagents that can be used to study the molecular mechanisms of Epsilon toxin cytotoxicity. NR-856 is native Epsilon protoxin purified directly from C. perfringens culture supernatant. NR-4670, the native protoxin that has been activated using trypsin, is cytotoxic to ATCC® CCL-34™ MDCK cells (Figure B). In addition, we offer NR-865 polyclonal antibody to Epsilon toxin which can detect the protein in an ELISA or western blot format. 
Fluorescence micrographs showing MDCK cells treated with NR-4670 activated Epsilon toxin (B) or without toxin (A) for 1.5 hours in the presence of propidium iodide. Pore formation by the toxin is demonstrated by the uptake and fluorescence of propidium iodide compared to the untreated control.
For technical questions about these products, or to learn more, please contact us by clicking here. |
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Yersinia pestis Plasmid Profiling Assay is Now Available
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The agent of bubonic plague Yersinia pestisis a NIAID Category A Priority Pathogen and likely biothreat. In support of research and product development in this area BEI Resources released a Yersinia pestis Plasmid Detection Kit (NR-9562) in April 2008.
.jpg) This assay allows the researcher to quickly identify the presence of plasmid-encoded virulence factors pPCP1, pMT1 and pCD1 and is designed to be used for characterization purposes in conjunction with standard microbiological techniques.
The assay consists of primer sets designed to specifically detect the pPCP1, pMT1 and pCD1 plasmids using standard polymerase chain reactions and includes a species-specific positive control primer set and internal positive control template.
PCR amplification of genomic DNA from Yersinia pestis displaying a pPCP1+, pMT1+, pCD1– profile (lanes 2-4 respectively). Lanes 5 and 6 are the Yersinia pestis and internal positive controls. Lane 7 is a non-template control."
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Panel A. Growth of Yersinia pestis on Congo Red media showing red/orange colonies typical of pgm+ organisms. Organisms that are confirmed pgm+ and pCD1+ are considered Select Agents.
Panel B. Bacteria lacking pgm showing distinctive variations in colony morphology and reduced coloring on Congo Red media as compared to pgm+ organisms.
For technical questions about these products or to learn more, please contact our Technical Services Department.
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BEI Resources offers Overlapping Peptide Arrays for Pathogens
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Custom peptides have many uses in biotechnology including epitope mapping, analyzing protein-protein interactions, and as antigens for the generation of anti-peptide antibodies. For epitope mapping, arrays consisting of a small amount of a large number of overlapping peptides are required. For the individual researcher, the generation of such a custom array of overlapping peptides for specific proteins of interest could be cost-prohibitive. For that reason, NIAID has funded BEI Resources to generate a substantial number of peptide arrays related to applications in biodefense and emerging infections. These reagents are provided free of charge (except for shipping and handling fees) for use by BEI registrants.
Currently BEI Resources offers peptide arrays for proteins of influenza, SARS-CoV and human coronaviruses, dengue virus, hepatitis C virus, West Nile virus, hantavirus, vaccinia virus, Yersinia pestis, and Bacillus anthracis (complete list). For more information on these peptide arrays, please search our online catalog for your peptide array of interest. If you need more assistance or information about BEI Resources peptide arrays, please contact us by clicking here. |
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