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Center for Gene therapy
Tulane University Health Sciences Center
1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-99
New Orleans, LA 70112
URL: www.som.tulane.edu/gene_therapy
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Principal
Investigator
Darwin J. Prockop, M.D., Ph.D.
504-988-7711; Fax: 504-988-7710
E-mail: dprocko@tulane.edu
Contact
Brian T. Butcher, Ph.D.
504-585-6464; Fax: 504-988-7710
E-mail: bbutcher@tulane.edu |
The resource will manufacture, characterize, and distribute adult human stem cells for nonclinical research. In addition, the resource will manufacture and distribute well-characterized rat stem cells. The overall aim is to establish a resource for preparation, quality testing, and distribution of the adult stem cells referred to as non-hematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells, or marrow stromal cells (MSCs). The cells have attracted increasing attention because they are readily isolated, expanded in culture, and genetically engineered. These adult stem cells can differentiate into multiple cell lineages and recently have been reported to have some efficacy in animal models for diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta, spinal cord injury, stroke, and cardiomyopathies. The resource will address a critical problem that has delayed research with MSCs—that is, the difficulties that many investigators have encountered in obtaining standardized preparations of the cells.
The resource will develop improved methods for isolating and characterizing human, rat, and mouse MSCs.
The resource will prepare (1) a continuous supply of human MSCs that are thoroughly quality tested and distribute them on request to other investigators at multiple institutions for research on the cells; (2) a similar continuous supply of rat MSCs for distribution to investigators at multiple institutions; (3) and MSCs from human bone marrow aspirates sent to the resource the resource by investigators at other institutions and return the quality-tested MSCs to the same investigators. Also, it will carry out quality testing of MSCs prepared by investigators at other institutions.
Index Terms
Adult stem cells, cell markers, rat stem cells, MSC, non-hematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, stromal cells.
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Biovest International
8500 Evergreen Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55433
URL: www.nccc.com
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Principal
Investigator and Contact
Mark Hirschel, Ph.D.
763-786-0302; Fax: 763-786-0915
E-mail: mhirschel@nccc.comor
ncccinfo@nccc.com
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The National Cell Culture Center is a national resource
established to provide customized, large-scale cell culture
services for basic research laboratories at minimal
expense.
All basic research investigators are eligible to use this
nonprofit national resource. The center provides
large-scale production of mammalian cells-suspension
culture (1 to 400 liters per day), anchorage-dependent
culture (1 to 200 roller bottles per batch),
insect/baculovirus culture (1 to 50 liters per day),
purified monoclonal antibodies (10 mg to 100 grams per
project), nonhybridoma cell-secreted proteins, and
conditioned media. Each cell line or
custom protocol is adapted to large-scale production, and
cells are delivered in the quantity and frequency
requested. Numerous common cell lines, such as HeLa, CHO,
Sf9/baculovirus, hybridomas, etc., are also produced
routinely. Cell banking and storage services are available.
To access these services, investigators should ask the
center for a Services Request Form. This form and a brief
description of the research project must be submitted
before any work can be performed. All work is confidential.
Index Terms
Antibodies; baculovirus; cell culture, large scale; CHO
cells; HeLa cells; insect cells; mammalian cells;
monoclonal antibody; Sf9 cells. |
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American Type Culture Collection
10801 University Boulevard
Manassas, VA 20110-2209 |
Principal
Investigator and Contact
Robert Hay, Ph.D.
703-365-2802; Fax: 703-365-2790
E-mail:
rhay@atcc.org
Co-Investigators
Barbara Knowles, Ph.D.
207-288-6361; Fax: 207-288-6079
E-mail: bbk@jax.org
James A. Thomson, D.V.M., Ph.D.
608-263-3585; Fax: 608-265-8984
E-mail:
thomson@primate.wisc.edu
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The National Stem Cell Resource (NSCR) accessions,
characterizes, expands, preserves and distributes nonhuman
embryonal stem cells, as well as postnatally derived stem
cells from a variety of strains and species. The resource
also standardizes and optimizes methodology and develops
new antibody and DNA reagents in an attempt to make
procedures and reagents broadly applicable across a range
of species and strains.
Characterizing nonhuman embryonal stem (ES) cells, and
lineage- or tissue-specific neonatally derived stem cells
from a variety of species with regard to germline
chimerism, marker expression, differentiative potential,
transfectability, selective agent sensitivity and vector
suitability.
Producing and characterizing selected reagents related to
stem cell characterization and utilization such as
antibodies, nucleic acid probes, cDNA and genomic
libraries, and gene targeting vectors.
Developing information and reagents related to optimized
medium formulation, standardized medium components and
feeder layers, and protocols applicable across species and
strains. Much of this work will focus on identifying common
traits and methodologies among non-mouse systems (e.g.,
expression of tyrosine protein kinases and other cell
surface receptor/signaling molecules, RT-PCR-based gene
expression assays, etc.).
The NSCR is located at the American Type Culture Collection
where it has access to the ATCC's collection of over 4,000
animal cell lines, 1,200 hybridomas and 4 million DNA
clones. The NSCR will supply to the scientific community
well-characterized and, where possible, functionally tested
nonhuman embryonic stem cells and lineage-specific
postnatal progenitor cells from a variety of species along
with related antibody reagents and media. Through the ATCC
the NSCR will provide I.M.A.G.E. consortium cDNA libraries
generated from a variety of mouse, rat and zebrafish
tissues and developmental stages. Through its Web site,
which is currently under development, the NSCR will
disseminate information, protocols, and research results
pertaining to its stem cell collection and associated
resources.
Index Terms
Cell phenotype, chimera, differentiation antigen, germline,
progenitor cells, stem cells.
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Natural Toxins Research Center
Texas A&M; University-Kingsville
700 University Boulevard, MSC 158
Kingsville, TX 78363 |
Principal
Investigator
John C. Pérez, Ph.D.
361-593-3805; Fax: 361-593-3798
E-mail:
kfjcp00@tamuk.edu
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Snake venoms are rich, stable sources of disintegrins, metalloproteases, and fibrinolytic enzymes. The Viper Resource Center's (VRC) mission is to provide global research, training, and resources that will lead to the discovery of medically important toxins found in venoms. The objectives of the VRC are: 1) to provide reliable sources of venoms and other snake products that are not available from other vendors; 2) to breed venomous snakes in captivity that are endangered or difficult to acquire; 3) to characterize medically important venoms by electrophoretic titration (ET), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), enzyme activities, and cell-based assays; 4) to conduct research that provides insights into structure/function relationships of venom proteins; and 5) to develop a snake and venom database that will be useful to other investigators worldwide. The database allows the user to view the snakes, their geographical distribution, and venom characteristics.
The primary research focus is to characterize disintegrins found in snake venoms that have potential applications to medicine. Disintegrins are competitive inhibitors of normal integrin function. Disintegrins found in snake venoms are low-molecular-weight polypeptides, most of which have an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence, also known as an RGD region, which is the universal recognition sequence for integrin receptors. The RGD motif in disintegrins can affect the shape, orientation, and movement of cells. Since disintegrins interfere with integrin function on the surface of cells, VRC scientists hypothesize that disintegrins will have important applications in the discovery of new drugs for treatment of cancer, heart attacks, and stroke. Compounds in snake venoms are being purified, characterized, and screened for disintegrin-like activities. The VRC also plays an active role in developing and testing antivenoms.
The VRC is located in the Natural Toxins Research Center (NTRC) at Texas A&M; University-Kingsville. The NTRC serpentarium currently houses more than 400 venomous snakes representing 25 species and 33 subspecies, with the goal to eventually include all venomous species from North America. The serpentarium has built-in snake cages with computer-controlled lighting and temperature. Individual snake venoms are collected, lyophilized, and entered into the database. The snakes are cataloged on the Internet database along with their geographical location data, hemorrhagic and protelytic activities, and HPLC and ET profiles. The NTRC Internet database is useful to investigators that have a need for snake venoms, glands, skins, blood, organs, or toxins found in snake venoms. The database can be queried according to scientific name, common name, sex, and identification number. The ET curves are extremely useful for determining the optimal conditions for the separation of venom proteins by ion-exchange chromatography. Seventy-six ET and HPLC profiles currently can be found on the NTRC homepage. The NTRC has been producing monoclonal antibodies since 1984 and has developed a laboratory with tissue culture facilities and instrumentation for purification and characterization of proteins.
Index Terms
Disintegrins, metalloproteinases, fibrinolytic enzymes, snake venoms, RGD, database.
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American Type Culture Collection
10801 University Boulevard
Manassas, VA 20110-2209
URL: www.atcc.org
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Principal
Investigator
Shung-Chang Jong, Ph.D.
Director, Yeast Genetic Stock Center
703-365-2742
Contact
Jianlong Jim Zhou, Ph.D.
Yeast Geneticist
703-365-2761; Fax: 703-365-2730
E-mail: jzhou@atcc.org
Ordering Information
1-800-638-6597; Fax: 703-365-2750
E-mail: sales@atcc.org
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The major objective of the Yeast Genetic Stock Center
(YGSC) is to acquire, authenticate, preserve, produce,
develop, and distribute genetically defined strains of the
yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and related
biological materials and information. Although several
other collections maintain yeast strains for taxonomic and
other applications, the YGSC is the only catalogued
collection in the world that exclusively maintains
genetically marked S. cerevisiae stocks.
Projected research focuses on improvement of the
traditional collection mission: Yeast genetic stocks
acquisition, accession, quality control, quality assurance,
preservation, production, distribution, information
services, and data management. Additional, externally
funded research may target study of gene regulation.
Yeast Genetic Stocks and Cloning Vectors
The American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) has more than
23,000 strains of S. cerevisiae, including more than
21,000 strains bearing defined mutations. In addition to
the stocks of S. cerevisiae, ATCC has 50 other yeast
species representing more than 20 genera. The current
collection includes more than 1,200 yeast cultures
transferred from the University of California at Berkeley.
The broad categories of mutations carried by the YGSC
include auxotrophic markers, temperature-sensitive lethals,
markers conferring sensitivity to radiation, fermentation markers,
mitochondrial markers, morphological markers, other smaller
genotypic categories, and a set of 20,000 knockouts made in
both haploid mating types and diploids by the Saccharomyces
Genome Deletion Project. ATCC also maintains S.
cerevisiae/Escherichia coli cloning and expression
shuttle vectors, S. pombe/E. coli shuttle vectors,
YACs and cosmids, genomic and cDNA libraries, and clones
derived from yeast sources.
Information Center
The YGSC serves as an information center for yeast
genetics, distributing not only yeast strains but also
strain history and techniques in yeast genetics. A
periodically updated catalogue of available strains is
displayed at the ATCC Web site
(www.atcc.org).
The ATCC Web site also provides for electronic order
placement, forms, and permits required for certain strains,
and hypertext links to other databases or directories of
information. The Web site is updated weekly; new strains
and other products and services are publicized.
Backup Collection
The ATCC acts as a backup collection for depositors who can
request their own cultures in the YGSC at any time without
charge.
Index Terms
cDNA library, genetic map, genetic stock center, genomic
library, library, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yeast.
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