The aerobiology team develops aerosol animal models of disease caused by high-consequence pathogens. Using advanced inhalational technologies, this team provides high experimental reproducibility to ensure the best modeling possible. Aerosolization procedures are fine-tuned to achieve accurate and precise dosimetry. All work with high-consequence pathogens is conducted within animal biosafety level 4 (ABSL-4) containment laboratories at the Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF‑Frederick).
Main Areas of Focus
- Comparison of virion deposition, infectivity, and virulence within the nasopharyngeal, tracheobronchial, and alveolar regions of the respiratory tract (figure below)
- Exploration of disease course and pathogenesis studies following aerosol exposure
- Testing and evaluation of therapeutics and prophylactic agents (e.g., vaccines)
- Facilitation and construction of mainstream and customized aerosol exposure chambers
- Plethysmography (analysis of respiratory parameters) for rabbits and nonhuman primates
- Comparison of aerosolization to other routes of administration (intramuscular, intratracheal) in animal models
- Reporting findings, generating reports, publishing manuscripts, and presenting data
Collaborative Research Support
- Provide consultation for inhalational studies
- Develop and refine aerosol animal modeling
- Customize and manufacture aerosol exposure chambers/devices
- Calculate predictive and actual dosimetry, aerosol concentration, and target dosing consultations
- Establish aerosol stability and viability characterization testing of viral agents
- Determination of LD50 for aerosolized viral agents
- Explore aerosol particle size comparison and analysis
- Perform respiratory acquisition and training for aerosol studies (plethysmography)
- Provide training and support for performing experiments in Class III biosafety cabinets
- Conduct biological decontamination of small laboratory equipment
Capabilities and Specialized Equipment
- Historical database of previously characterized aerosolized viral agents, including Ebola virus, Marburg virus, Lassa virus, Nipah virus, SARS-CoV-2, MERS‑CoV, and cowpox virus
- Historical database of previously collected plethysmography data on nonhuman primates of several species and rabbits
- Aerosol management platform (AeroMP-Biaera Technologies)
- Aerosol exposure chambers (whole-body, head-only, nose-only, rodent tower, rabbit chamber, custom-built)
- Centered flow tangential aerosol generator (CenTAG-CH Technologies)
- Collison nebulizer (Mesa Laboratories)
- Biosamplers (SKC Inc., In-Tox, Mesa Laboratories, custom-built)
- Aerodynamic particle sizer and diluters (APS-TSI Inc.)
- Plethysmography equipment: real time respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) technology, algorithm based (Ponemah, Buxco, SmartLab platforms-DSI Inc., Hans Rudolph Inc.)
- Class III biosafety cabinets with autoclaves connected to (A)BSL-4 (Germfree, Getinge)
- Certek decontamination machine (Nextek LLC)
A sagittal view of a nonhuman primate shows representative PET/CT overlays displaying deposition patterns as a function of particle size. Regional deposition pattern shifts as particle size increases to greater deposition in the upper respiratory tract. The body surface of the animal is represented by a light gray boundary; warmer colors indicate higher concentration in tissues and cooler colors indicate a lower concentration.
Location
Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick)
Contact Information
Venkatesh Mani, Ph.D.
Director of Imaging and Maximum Containment (Contractor)
Matt Lackemeyer, M.S.
Aerobiologist(Contractor)
IRF-Frederick
Standards
All procedures are well-documented and adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs), methods, or study-approved plans and agreements.
Collaboration Opportunities
- Studies relevant to human disease
- Use of surrogate systems to test clinical hypotheses
- Use of biological systems to answer questions regarding disease pathogenesis and strategies for intervention including antimicrobials, vaccines, and other countermeasures
- Developing and incorporating cutting-edge technologies to understand infectious diseases
Read more about how to work with the IRF-Frederick.