Physiological Effects of Natural or Contaminating Compounds in a Rodent's Microenvironment

国家环境健康科学研究所(NIEHS)比较医学分部的质量保证实验室(QAL)对整个NIEHS研究计划的关键方面的微生物和/或化学污染进行测试。我们的主要任务是监测动物研究计划中可能影响动物健康和福利的微生物和/或化学污染，以及研究研究中使用的动物的生理反应。 我们的研究重点是研究动物微环境(如动物饲料、笼子、被褥、水等)中自然或污染微生物或化合物的生理效应。我们的目标是确保我们最大限度地减少接触环境化合物，这些化合物可能会影响动物的健康和福利，或者改变动物的生理反应，导致不可接受的可变性。 从历史上看，QAL研究的重点是研究动物微环境中存在的内分泌干扰化合物(EDCs)的可能性，以及这些化合物可能对研究结果，特别是生殖发育的影响。我们已经证明，商业上可获得的啮齿动物饲料中存在的天然植物雌激素(如大豆苷元和染料木素)，或者添加到不含这些化合物或真菌毒素的饲料中，玉米赤霉烯酮可以促进幼年雌性小鼠的生殖发育。 目前在QAL中进行的研究包括： 1.啮齿动物饲料中产气荚膜梭菌的毒理学研究 2.从啮齿动物饲料中分离到一株新的大肠杆菌。 3.用于检测样本中多种啮齿动物病原体的有针对性的下一代测序。

The Quality Assurance Laboratory (QAL) in the Comparative Medicine Branch at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS)performs testing on the microbiological and/or chemical contamination of critical aspects of the overall NIEHS research program. Our primary task is monitoring the animal research program for microbiological and/or chemical contamination that may affect animal health and welfare, as well as, the physiological responses of animals used in research studies. Our research focuses on the physiological effects of natural or contaminating microorganisms or compounds in the micro-environment (e.g., animal feed, caging, bedding, water, etc.)of the research animals. Our goal is to assure that we minimize exposure to environmental compounds that may effect animal health and welfare or alter physiological responses of the animals resulting in unacceptable variability. Historically, QAL studies have focused on the potential for endocrine-disrupting compounds EDCs) being present in the micro-environment of the research animals and the impact these compounds may have on study outcomes, especially reproductive development. We have shown that natural phytoestrogens (e.g., daidzein and genistein) present in commercially available rodent diets or added to diets free of these compounds or the presence of the mycotoxin, zearalenone can accelerate reproductive development in juvenile female mice. The current studies being performed in QAL include the following: 1. Toxicogenetic profiling of Clostridium perfringens isolates from rodent feed. 2. Isolation of a novel strain of Eschericia coli from a rodent diet. 3. Targeted, next-generation sequencing for the detection of multiple rodent pathogens within a sample.