Description
Material provided: Physical access for end-users
Unit definition: 1 week of access
Locations: Wageningen University (WU), Wageningen, Netherlands OR Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Montpellier, France
Biosafety Level: CL3
Website: WU BSL3 lab
The facilities
The CL3 laboratories offer the opportunity to perform behavioral experiments with pathogen infected insects, such as WNV infected Culex pipiens or other vector-virus combinations. A special designed olfactometer ensures safe handling of free flying insects and different odour stimuli can be offered in this set-up. Electrophysiological studies can be performed under CL3 conditions as well. Climate cabinets are available that can be programmed, including fluctuating temperatures. Enclosures for behavioral and ecological studies on disease vectors outside of CL3, but that can support work done in the CL3, comprise several additional olfactometers, a flight image analyser for recording of flying insects, including the software programme to translate the flights into 3D images. EAG and single sensillum recording systems and software to study the olfactory response of vectors are available. Technical support will be made available to operate the olfactometer and electrophysiology set-up.
Available vectors
Experiments will be conducted with Infravec-distributed vector colonies. The insectaries are currently supply several lines of Culex pipiens (biotypes pipiens and molestus), Anopheles coluzzii, Anopheles quadriannulatus, Aedes aegypti, as well as Culicoides nubeculosus (biting midge). Users’ own mosquito colony/strain of interest might be hosted in the lab for the duration of the experiment, upon specific agreement.
Services offered
One Unit is a 1-week access to a dedicated CL3 lab to study behaviour of infected mosquitoes.
The unit of access offers the rearing of the mosquitoes necessary for the experiments prior to the arrival of the user and preparation of virus stock. Experimental infection and subsequent experiments will be realised by the user with help from a technician and supervision by a researcher for completion of the assays when necessary.
Equipment
- Biological Safety Cabinet
- Olfactometer
- Blood-feeding unit (Hemotek) for oral virus infections
- Micro-injector (Nanoject) for intra-thoracic virus infections
- Three climate controlled cabinets for
- Cell culture cabinets
- -80 Freezer
- Mosquito-proof tent for injection and dissection studies
- Set-up for electrophysiological analysis
- Phase-contrast microscope
For more information, please contact us.