Model Animal Typing and Archiving (TAAM)

The TAAM is a support and research unit offering a wide range of services based on rat and mouse models for fundamental, biomedical and pharmaceutical research. TAAM offers a range of high-level technical services based on 8 areas of expertise:

• Genetic analysis and monitoring,
• Cryopreservation
• Microbiological diagnosis
• Management of axenic and gnotoxenic colonies,
• Custom colony management,
• In vivo imaging,
• Import-export,
• Assisted reproduction.

TAAM is one of the three national partners in the PHENOMIN infrastructure, which was awarded a prize under the "Investments in Biology and Health" programme in 2011. It is also a member of the CELPHEDIA national infrastructure (Creation, Breeding, Phenotyping, Distribution and Archiving of vertebrate models). TAAM is one of the platforms of the pan-European INFRAFRONTIER infrastructure, and is one of the main centres for archiving, axenisation and distribution of mouse models. TAAM has also been identified as an IBISA (Infrastructures in BIology Health and Agronomy) platform since 2001. The unit has been ISO 9001 certified since 2008 and NFX50-900 certified since 2014.

Expertise and skills:

TAAM provides the scientific community with all the technical facilities required for the management of colonies and the conservation and distribution of mouse models. The platform houses a "mouse library", a large collection of mouse model lines for fundamental research and biomedical innovation.

Custom colony management

Housing genetically complex lines with varying health statuses; in isolators, ventilated racks or open cages in protected areas. Custom projects, cohort generation, controlled matings, personalised diets, experimentation, etc.

Management of axenic and gnotoxic colonies

Axenisation of mouse lines by aseptic hysterectomy and embryo transfer.

Genetic analysis and monitoring

Genotyping of genetically modified and non-genetically modified mouse and rat lines (knock-out, knock-in, transgenic, mutant, etc.) using the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technique.

Cryopreservation

Preservation of mouse and rat lines in the form of embryos and/or sperm; systematic viability testing.

Microbiological diagnosis

Determination of the presence or absence of pathogenic microorganisms or microorganisms that interfere with research (bacteria, parasites, viruses), according to the list of FELASA recommendations in force.

In vivo imaging

Imaging methods including bioluminescence and 2D fluorescence, 2D and 3D scintigraphic imaging, ultrasound and photoacoustics. Development of experimental cancer models using xenografts that can be studied using in vivo imaging (proliferation, tumour metabolism, hypoxia, etc.).

Import / export

Transfer of murine models in "breathing" or frozen form (embryos/sperm) in France or abroad.

Assisted reproduction

Rederivation: Obtaining mouse or rat lines with health status free of pathogens and opportunists from a variety of biological materials (embryo, sperm).

Reviviscence: Revival of lines from embryos (mouse/rat) or from Frozen sperm (mice) cryopreserved on site or from external laboratories.

Experimental facilities:

• Ventilated racks, medium and large-capacity isolators, protected areas, autoclaves, washing tunnels, microbiological safety stations,
• Cryocontainers,
• Microscopes, binocular magnifiers,
• Planar scintigraphy,
• Optical imaging (bioluminescence, fluorescence),
• X-ray imaging (2D or X-ray scanner)
• Tomoscintigraphy,
• Ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging