Axenic Service by the Mary Lyon Centre at MRC-Harwell, UK

Axenic Facility at the Mary Lyon Centre at MRC-Harwell, UK

The Axenic Facility at MRC-Harwell is part of the core animal facility of the Mary Lyon Centre at MRC-Harwell (MLC). The MLC’s mouse facility is split between a dedicated quarantine suite for receiving imported mouse strains and an SPF barrier facility which also houses the germ-free facility. The MLC can house up to 55,000 mice and is familiar with the demands of maintaining several hundred mouse strains at any one time. All mice are bred for dedicated bio-medical research projects established in association with internal and external scientists. Current areas of expertise include mouse model generation, complex phenotyping, cancer, as well as, developmental and behavioural studies. The axenic facility has been established to provide a wide-ranging breeding and experimental capability. Axenic colonies are maintained in rigid wall isolators fitted with the Double Door Rapid Transfer Port (DPTE®) system developed by La Calhene. These DTPE ports ensure a bio-secure, and user-friendly connecting system for introducing and removing equipment and other materials to and from sterile isolators. Like other resources at the MLC, the axenic facility is available to the wider scientific community, in the UK and abroad.

Service Description:

Axenic service includes axenisation of mouse strains starting from live animals (minimum of 10 females and 5 males), frozen embryos or sperm (minimum of 40 embryos or 2 straws of sperm) and the exportation of germ-free mice within purpose-made shippers. The facility can also supply researchers with organs, tissues, and biofluids harvested from germ-free mice. There is also some capacity to provide extended breeding services under germ-free conditions, enabling the user to set up experiments on site and take advantage of other services such as, histology, flow cytometry, and microscopy.

All axenic colonies are maintained in rigid wall isolators fitted with the Double Door Rapid Transfer Port (DPTE®) system developed by La Calhene. These DTPE ports maintain a bio-secure, and user-friendly connecting system for introducing and removing equipment and other materials to and from sterile isolators.

Additional Support
  • Extended breeding services under germ-free conditions
  • The axenic platform can host clients that wish to perform on site experiments, e.g., histology, flow-cytometry, microscopy
  • Support researchers with access to organs, tissues and biofluids from germ-free mice, and quick access to mice that are kept under germ-free conditions
  • Logistics support and advice on shipping rederived germ-free mice to their facilities can be provided. Dedicated shippers will be provided for transportation and specialised courier services will be recommended
INFRAFRONTIER® and European Mouse Mutant Archive - EMMA® are registered trademarks at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).