The University of Chicago Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory (HTRL) is one of the NIAID-supported Biocontainment Laboratories. The HTRL is a state of the art BSL-3 facility constructed to support research on bacterial and viral pathogens. The HTRL is registered with the US Select Agent Program and its mission is to carry out cutting-edge translational research on biodefense-related agents as well as the causative agents of emerging infectious diseases.
More information about this resource is available at Howard T. Ricketts Laboratory
Main Areas of Focus
- To develop new vaccines and therapeutics for biodefense-related and emerging infectious diseases.
- To provide training in biosafety and BSL-3 operations.
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 of biocontainment laboratories.
How To Get Started
- Please contact the HTRL directly for further information.
Support Services
Laboratory and Analytical Support
- Immunology services: Mid-point ELISA (titers, isotype, epitope mapping), Luminex200 (multiplex cytokine detection), FACs., Mouse monoclonal antibody production.
- Pathology services: Tissue harvesting, embedding and staining.
- Microbiology services: Bacteriology, Growth curve, therapeutic MIC, cloning, gene KO. Phenotypic determination (western blot, immunofluorescence, etc). Virology, Cytopathic Effect assay, Plaque assay, TCDi50 assay, Neutralizing antibody assay, Spike IHC screening, RNA extraction, Quantitative RT-PCR.
Ability To Accommodate cGLP or cGMP Studies?
- No
Tools
Animal Models, including species, disease, and delivery method
- Mouse model for bubonic plague (subcutaneous or intra-dermal delivery)
- Mouse model for pneumonic plague (intranasal instillation or aerosol exposure)
- Mouse and guinea pig model for systemic anthrax (subcutaneous or intraperitoneal delivery)
- Mouse and guinea pig model for gastrointestinal anthrax (oral delivery)
- Mouse and guinea pig model for pulmonary anthrax (intranasal instillation or aerosol delivery)
- Mouse model for Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA infection and colonization: Kidney abscess model (intravenous injection)
- Guinea Pig model for MRSA (intravenous injection)
- Mouse models of Yersiniosis (intra-peritonal and intra-gastric routes of delivery)
- Mouse model of SARS-CoV2 Hamster model of SARS-CoV2
Pathogens
- Yersinia pestis
- Bacillus anthracis
- B. cereus biovar anthracis
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
- Staphylococcus aureus/MRSA
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Rickettsia conorii
- SARS-CoV-2
- MERS-CoV
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 (available January 2025)
Specialized Areas or Major Equipment Available
- Tissue processing room (Necropsy)
- Aerobiology: nose-only exposure system for small animals
- BD FACSMelody™ sorter
- IVIS Lumina In Vivo Imaging System
- Luminex200
- Stellaris 8 STED
- Whole body plethysmography (available January 2025)
Shared Resources
The HTRL is located at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) where there are facilities for NexGen DNA sequencing, computation, and protein structure determination. Access to the ANL campus is restricted and thus provides a highly secure environment.
Contact Information
Director: Dominique Missiakas, Ph.D.