National Gnotobiotic Rodent Resource Center

The National Gnotobiotic Rodent Resource Center (NGRRC) provides services on local, national and international levels to academic institutions and governmental programs. Investigators use this resource to examine physiologic and pathophysiologic differences in germ-free (germ-free, sterile) vs. gnotobiotic (known life) vs. specific pathogen free (SPF) rodents of various genetic backgrounds. Investigators can precisely manipulate the microbiota by selectively colonizing germ-free rodents with single or multiple commensal or pathogenic bacterial or fungal species, using isogenic wild type or genetically engineered bacterial strains. Such studies help to define the physiologic and pathophysiologic relevance of bacterial genes.