BRF Update - June 2022
I hope things have been going well, it is has been a busy few weeks for the BRF with ongoing planned and unplanned leave to manage. I would like to thank the team for their continued efforts to support work across different areas to keep everything running.
Please read on for a number of important updates:
Network upgrade 18th June – TRI building closure
Please be reminded that there will be another building closure with restricted access this Sat 18th June. If you need to access the BRF during this time you will need to notify ICT as per the building wide notification sent out (attached).
Corynebacterium bovis infections in TRI BRF
Corynebacterium bovis has recently been detected in a number of sick animals from several animal colonies (owned by different labs) in 1076. In addition to illness this bacteria can affect tumour transplantation uptake and made animals unsuitable for research purposes. This bacterial agent can spready easily through cross-contamination of equipment/surfaces/PPE and aerosolization of particles (e.g. in cabinets) and it is not clear at this stage how effective our standard disinfectants (Virkon and ethanol) are. Due to these issues this agent is excluded from the TRI BRF, which means we will be working out a plan to eliminate it from the facility.
I have attached an email that was circulated to affected labs that provides details on this bacterial species, the testing results we have so far and some initial changes to practices that have been put together. Please familiarise yourself with this content, it is critically important that you are aware of risks and controls to your research animals:
- General information on this agent, transmission, interference with research results - https://www.criver.com/products-services/research-models-services/animal-health-surveillance/infectious-agent-information/corynebacterium-bovis?region=3701
- A paper on a method to eliminate C.bovis from PDX lines and transplanted tissue - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5361042/#!po=85.0000
- A paper on detailed testing and decontamination practices to detect and control C.bovis - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5361048/?report=reader#!po=31.8182
- A paper looking at transmission routes of C.bovis - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3314522/#!po=26.9231
We have taken additional samples for testing to get a clearer picture of how far this bacterial species may have spread throughout the facility thus far and are awaiting further results. We will be working with the TRI BRF Users group (and everyone who has provided feedback/is affected) to put together a much more detailed management plan, including how infected animals will be managed long term, how we will eliminate this bacteria with minimal research/operational disruption, how we will minimise the risk of cross-contamination and how we will reduce risks of re-introduction into the facility.
I would like to thank everyone for their input, ideas, patience and support in working through this difficult situation, it has been hugely appreciated – please keep this coming. I will also be submitting a central adverse event report to the AEC and providing an update on the record keeping required around this.
Staff associate accounts for non-UQ staff – email forwarding
As many non-UQ users would be aware, UQBR have had a process established for setting up UQ staff associate accounts for non-UQ users that do not have UQ logins (such as QUT staff). This UQ login enables non-UQ staff to use the Single Sign of functionality to log into facility computers, access the Mosaic Database and access the UQBR Learning management system. There has been an ongoing issue where these accounts do not auto-forward emails sent to the UQ staff associate accounts email address, to the regular (e.g. QUT) email address that an individual may use. This issue has now been rectified with the UQ IT team, and UQBR have set up their form to automatically capture this information upon setting up new accounts.
For those with existing staff associate accounts that would like auto-forwarding set up, please email [email protected] with the details of your staff associate account username and the non-UQ email address you would like to have emails forwarded to.
TRI Core Gnotobiotic Facility coordinator position – advertising – HEW 7 12 months
I would like to congratulate Emily Duggan who has been successful in being appointed to the TRI Core Facilities Manager role for a 12 month secondment. We are recruiting to backfill Emily’s role and I would very much encourage anyone interested to apply for this exciting opportunity. The role is responsible for leadership of the TRI Core Gnotobiotic Facility (including germ-free work) and further details can be found at the following links:
If you know of anyone who might be interested please pass on these advertisement details and I would be happy to discuss the details of this role further.
TRI BRF Staff updates
Kim Woolley - I would like to welcome Kim to our team who started with us on Monday 23rd May. Kim has had extensive previous experience working at QBI as a supervisor, but has taken a break from the sector recently. Kim is working in washup part time 4 days per week - Tues – Fri.
Alexandra McGowan – I would like to say a massive thank you and farewell to Alexandra McGowan who has been working with us for the last year and a bit as a casual, providing us with fantastic support particularly focused in the breeding wing. Alex is going on to become a teacher – her last day was yesterday and I wish her the very best.
Digital Ventilated Caging – seeking expressions of interest
UQBR have been successful in obtaining funding for this new animal caging technology, which represents the latest paradigm shift in animal care. This technology allows for 24/7 monitoring of animal activity and the condition of the cage bedding, food and water. This information can be used for significant operational benefits (such as optimising cage change timing and frequency) but most importantly, it allows for very detailed and close monitoring of animal welfare and can also generate some types of research data.
Basic information on the technology: https://digitalcage-tecniplast.com/en/video/dvcr-how-digitally-ventilated-cages-work.html
Examples of how animal activity has been used to generate research outcomes and refine monitoring endpoints: https://digitalcage-tecniplast.com/en/research.html
There will be several pilot units set up in different UQ facilities, and TRI will be receiving one of these setups at the end of this year. Although this is still a few months away, we are looking for EOIs from research groups who would like to trial this technology for improving welfare/research outcomes for their projects/disease models. If you are interested please email [email protected] and we will organise a further discussion.
As always please let us know if you have any queries, suggestions or feedback.
