The drive to develop new prophylactic vaccines has resulted from the increase in impact of emerging diseases, bioterrorism and resistance to existing antimicrobials, as well as the apparent increased virulence of some viruses, such as influenza. Charles River is working with companies that develop vaccines by providing in vivo challenge studies, in addition to a large portfolio of vaccine testing options.

Studies involve the deliberate infection of a healthy host, allowing for a greater understanding of the infecting pathogen and the potency/efficacy of a product. Many ethical and safety considerations need to be addressed for such studies, and assessment is dependent on the pathogen, route of administration and host species.

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  • Various models available, including a vaginal candidiasis rat model
  • Use of individually ventilated cages (IVCs)
  • In-house microbiology department
  • Characterization of challenge material
  • Exploratory studies with the isolate
  • Evaluation of candidate antigens for bacterial challenge studies
  • Viral challenge studies and adjuvant selection testing
  • Antibiotics
  • Antifungals
  • Medical Countermeasures (MCMs), including countermeasures for botulinum toxin in all seven serotypes

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