Mouse Gnotobiology Unit
Mouse Gnotobiology Unit
To explore the microbiome’s homeostatic and pathophysiological significance in vivo, germ-free or gnotobiotic mice are essential. Our specialized gnotobiotic animal facilities at the UKSH Campus Kiel and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön provide the ideal environment for housing and breeding these mice under strictly defined conditions.
Facility Features
Large Flexible Isolators: Our facilities are equipped with Class Biological Clean Flexible Film Softwall Double-tier Isolators. With 12 isolators in Kiel and 14 in Plön, we can accommodate up to 2340 mice in total (1080 in Kiel and 1260 in Plön).
IVC Systems: Experimental mice are housed in Tecniplast ISOcage P Systems within our facilities. These systems provide a controlled environment for the mice’s well-being.
Germ-Free Workstations: Manipulation of the mice for germ-free work is conducted under separate transfer stations (Tecniplast IBS Workstation). Kiel has 2 racks with 47 cages each, while Plön has 1 rack with 47 cages, allowing for the maintenance of up to 705 mice in all ISOcage racks (470 in Kiel and 235 in Plön).
Capabilities
Our gnotobiology platform offers a total maximum capacity of 3045 gnotobiotic mice (1550 in Kiel and 1495 in Plön). We routinely maintain commonly used mouse lines such as C57BL6, Swiss Webster, and IL10 knockout mice. Additionally, we have the flexibility to import and breed other genetically modified mouse lines as needed.
Expert Staff
Our facilities are managed by dedicated professionals. Kiel is staffed by two full-time animal caretakers and the platform manager PD Dr. Felix Sommer, while Plön is overseen by two part-time animal caretakers (50 % each) and the platform managers Dr. Sven Künzel and Prof. Dr. John Baines.
Contact
Please send your enquiry via email to: gnoto@email.uni-kiel.de.
Kiel: Dr. Felix Sommer, f.sommer@iem.uni-kiel.de
Plön: Prof. Dr. John Baines, j.baines@iem.uni-kiel.de