Emu: Acquisition of equipments for the installation of a breeding and experimentation unit for axenic animals at CEMIB-Unicamp to serve the scientific community and medical-biological research in the state of Sao Paulo

• Grant number: 23/17165-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Small Medium Sized
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Marco Aurélio Ramirez Vinolo
• Grantee: Marco Aurélio Ramirez Vinolo
• Host Institution: Centro Multidisciplinar para Investigação Biológica (CEMIB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Caroline Marcantonio Ferreira ; Daniela Carlos Sartori ; Katia Sivieri ; Patrick Daniel Varga-Weisz ; Renata Sesti Costa

Abstract

The microbiota is essential in maintaining the body's homeostasis. Recent studies highlight the pervasive impact of the gut microbiota on physiology, including in the regulation of systemic metabolism, development and functions of the immune and nervous systems. In this context, axenic or germ-free mice are essential tools. These models represent currently the gold standard in the study of interactions between the microbiota and host cells/tissues, playing a crucial role in the transition from associative and descriptive approaches to mechanistic studies, establishing cause and effect relationships. Despite the growing demand and relevance for such studies, there are few research groups in Latin America with access to these resources, generally obtained through collaborations with institutions in the USA and Europe. But even there, access to these facilities is limited. We propose to establish a Breeding and Experimentation Unit for axenic mice at CEMIB/UNICAMP and request the necessary equipment and infrastructure to guarantee the standard of the animals and allow experimentation with them by the scientific community. CEMIB already has qualified human resources, expertise and cutting-edge infrastructure to offer the technically complex service of breeding and supplying axenic animals. The integration of laboratories already operating at CEMIB, such as the Animal Health Quality Control Laboratory and the Cryogenics Laboratory, will technically strengthen the success of the Axenic Animal Breeding and Experimentation Unit. On the other hand, CEMIB's extensive experience as a multi-user center and in attracting and managing resources will guarantee the sustainability of the Unit. CEMIB's Axenic Animals Unit will serve the scientific community, locally at UNICAMP, but also within the state of Sao Paulo and Brazil and further afield, providing certified axenic animals and controlled conditions for carrying out cutting-edge experiments. This initiative will promote a significant improvement in terms of quality and depth in research carried out in the area. The use of axenic animals will allow us to investigate in detail the crosstalk between the microbiota and the organism, a fundamental point for understanding how our bodies function and developing tools for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various pathologies. (AU)