Talk:Gnotobiosis

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Gnotobiology, gnotobiotic, gnotophoric,gnotobiosis, germfree, axenic. These are all terms which describe the microbiological status of flora and fauna. The professional development of work with animals resulted in the formation of the Association for Gnotobiotics was founded in 1961 by Philip C. Trexler (at that time with the Lobund Laboratory, University of Notre Dame) in response to the need for organization and standardization in the rapidly expanding field of germfree research. The goals of the Association as defined in the original Articles of Incorporation are:

       a.. To stimulate research in the field of basic and applied

gnotobiotics;

       b.. To expedite the dissemination of information relative to

gnotobiotics and gnotobiotic technology;

       c.. To stimulate the production, maintenance, distribution and use of gnotobiotes;

       d.. To establish standards for the microbiological testing and husbandry practice with Gnotobiotes, and to establish a certification program;

       e.. To establish an acceptable nomenclature in the field of gnotobiotics.
       f.. At that time, Trexler defined gnotobiotics as the science

involved with maintaining a microbiologically controlled environment and with the biological knowledge necessary to obtain and use biological specimens in this environment. Trexler devised an inexpensive, disposable flexible film (plastic) isolator system to house experimantal biota. The definition concisely reflects the roots of the word; that is "gnotos" meaning well known and "biota" meaning the combined flora and fauna of a region. The recently accepted definition of gnotobiote as put forth by the Committee on Standardized Nomenclature is:

     "Animal strains derived by aseptic surgical procedures or from sterile

hatching of eggs, which are reared and maintained with germfree techniques under isolator conditions and in which the composition of the associated fauna and flora, if present, is fully defined by accepted current methodology." BOOKS . Wostmann, B.S. 1996. Germfree and Gnotobiotics Animal Models: Background and Applications, 208 pp. CRC Press, Inc.: Boca Raton, FL.

. Monastersky, G.M., and J.M. Robl. 1995. Strategies in Transgenic Animal Science. ASM Press: Washington, D.C.

. Svedsen, P., and J. Hau 1994. Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science. Vol. I: Selection and Handling of Animals in Biomedical Research, 448 pp. CRC Press, Inc.: Boca Raton, FL.

. Svedsen, P., and J. Hau. 1994. Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science. Vol. II: Animal Models, 224 pp. CRC Press, Inc.: Boca Raton, FL.

. Heidt, P.J. 1989. Gnotobiotics and Bone Marrow Transplantation: Experimental and Clinical Studies. Radiobiological Institute of the Div. for Health Research TNO: The Netherlands.

. Wostmann, B.S. 1984. Germfree Research Microflora Control and Its Application to the Biomedical Sciences, Vol. 181. Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York, NY.

. Inglis, J.K. 1980. Introduction to Laboratory Animal Science and Technology. Pergamon Press, Elmsford, NY.

. Pleasants, J.R. 1974. Gnotobiotics. In, Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science, Vol. I. Melby, Jr., E.C., and N.H. Altman.[editors] pp:119-174. CRC Press, Cleveland,OH.

. Porter, G. 1971. Notes for Breeders of Common Laboratory Animals. Lane-Petter, W. (ed.), Academic Press, New York, NY.

. Coates, M.E. 1968. The Germ-Free Animal in Research. Academic Press: London and New York.

. Luckey, Thomas D. 1963. Germfree Life and Gnotobiology. Academic Press, New York and London.

REFERENCE: Proceedings of the International Symposiums on Gnotobiology [International Meetings are held every 3 Years] . Hashimoto, K., B. Sakakibara, S. Tazume, and K. Shimizu. Germfree Life and Its Ramifications. Proc. of the XIIth International Symposium on Gnotobiology, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 24-28, 1996. XII ISG Publishing Committee, Shiozawa, Japan, 1996. Dprobinson 15:29, 19 August 2007 (UTC)