Mouse/Human Chimera Core
Animal
Location:	Warren Hall 21-101, 21-150, 21-146
Email:	gbristol@ucla.edu
Phone Number:	310-794-7765
Web Address:	http://www.uclaaidsinstitute.org/researchareas/mouse.php
Description:	The function of the immunodeficient mouse and mouse/human chimera UCLA AIDS and Cancer Institute core facility is to provide for the development and application of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) and nude mice in relation to HIV research. The core will: Provide investigators with SCID mice bred by the core facility; Provide housing for nude and SCID mice for cancer research; Assist investigators in constructing SCID-human mice reconstituted with various human tissues; Develop appropriate SCID-human chimeric models for HIV-related research; Provide the housing of SCID mice and SCID-human chimeric mice related to HIV work; Provide assistance, expertise and advice in the reconstitution and analysis of SCID-human chimeras; Provide micro-isolator cages, as well as two distinct housing facilities for mice administered with either infectious or non-infectious materials; Provide consultation on analysis of reconstitution of SCID-human chimeras; Provide a limited number of SCID-human mice on a recharge basis; Provide limited manipulations of individual investigators' animals; However, the core will not provide analysis of tissues for flow cytometry, immuno-histochemistry, PCR or other analyses. The core can provide expertise and advice in these areas, but the analysis of experimental animals will be the responsibility of the specific investigators. Some of these analyses are available through other UCLA AIDS Institute core facilities. Costs of the facility use to the investigator are $7.50-$10.00/entry(including gown),$10.00/hour of BSL3 facility use(including supplies and recharges), $17.00/mouse, $0.50/cage/day for maintenance, and $25.00 for technical assistance. Thy/Liv reconstituted SCID-hu mice can be purchased at $150 each. ARC approval for SCID-hu animals must be obtained prior to request. Extensive labor is involved in constructing SCID-hu mice, so availability will be limited. Therefore, investigators must establish the relevance of their experiments to AIDS and the feasibility of their approaches. The Core Director will determine priority of SCID-hu mouse distribution. In the event of a dispute, final approval will be determined by the Executive Committee of the UCLA AIDS Institute. For more information, please contact Greg Bristol at (310)794-7765, or go to Mouse/Human Chimera Core's Website.