Germ-free animal
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Germ-free animals are animals that have no microorganisms living in or on it. Such animals are raised within germ-free isolators in order to control their exposure to viral, bacterial or parasitic agents.[1] When known strains of bacteria or microbiota are introduced to a germ-free animal, it is renamed as a gnotobiotic animal.
Germ-free animals are used in the study of probiotic research and other animal research requiring careful control of outside contaminants that can affect the experiment.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ University of Michigan Germ Free Animal Facility - example facility for raising germ-free animals
- ^ Of Probiotics and Possibilities - J. Armbrecht. Dept of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison. August 2, 2000.
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