The Tufts New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory (RBL) is one of the NIAID-supported Regional Biocontainment Laboratories. The RBL is available to researchers in industry, academia, government and not-for-profit, dedicated to the study of existing and emerging infectious diseases.
More information about this resource is available at Tufts University
Main Areas of Focus
- To study existing and emerging infectious diseases requiring BSL3/ABSL3 containment
- To provide expertise and animal models to qualified investigators.
- Current research focuses on SARS-CoV-2; avian influenza; TB
Who Can Use This Resource
- Investigators in academia, not-for-profit organizations, industry, and government studying biodefense and emerging infectious diseases may request the use or services of biocontainment laboratories.
How To Get Started
- Please contact the RBL directly for further information.
Support Services
Laboratory and Analytical Support
- Containment immunology and cell biology services: Cell sorting and imaging; Elispot and other immunoassays
- Molecular diagnostic services: high throughput nucleic acid extraction, real time PCR, Chromium X single cell analysis
- Standard virology assays: neutralization (PRNT, FRNT)
- Pathology services: Comparative pathology supported by the Tufts Comparative Pathology and Genomics Shared Resource
Ability To Accommodate cGLP or cGMP Studies?
No.
Tools
Animal Capabilities (ABSL2 and ABSL3)
- Mice
- White footed mice
- Wild caught rodents
- Rats
- Guinea pigs
- Rabbits
- Ferrets
- Gnotobiotic piglets
Animal Models, Including Species, Disease, and Delivery Method
- Mice: Francisella tularensis (intranasal, intradermal); Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis (aerosol, intranasal); SARS-CoV-2 (aerosol, intranasal); influenza (aerosol,intranasal); Powassan virus (tick bite, parenteral); EEE (parenteral); Rickettsia spp. (tick bite, parenteral)
- Guinea pigs: M. tuberculosis (aerosol); Rickettsia spp. (tick bite, parenteral)
- Rats: F. tularensis (intranasal)
Pathogens
- F. tularensis
- M. tuberculosis
- M. bovis
- Rickettsia spp.
- SARS-CoV-2
- EEE
- Powassan virus
- LPAI
- HPAI
In vivo Imaging Capabilities
- None
Major Equipment Available
BSL3:
- NanoDrop 2000c spectrophotometer
- MacsQuant Tyto cell sorter
- 10X Genomics Chromium X single cell sequencing
- Incucyte real time in vitro cell imaging
- Kingfisher high throughput nucleic acid extraction
- CTL ImmunoSpot S6 reader
- Celigo Imaging Cytometer
- Quantstudio 3 real time PCR
- BioTekCytation 1 Multi-Mode Microplate Readers
- Beckman Optima Max ultracentrifuge
BSL2 support lab:
- Zeiss LSM700 confocal microscope
ABSL3: Aerobiology (CH Technologies nose-only inhalation exposure system in a Baker Class III hood and Glascol whole body exposure system).
Shared Resources
An isolated BSL3 animal/laboratory space (Building 20) for vector borne pathogen research (ticks, mosquitoes); Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health—staff of 50 with technical expertise in animal models for many of the NIAID Priority A, B, and C Pathogens, plus access to equipment within the department.
Contact Information
Director: Sam Telford, MS, ScD
Associate Director for Research Operations: Sally Robinson BVSc, MVSc, PhD