In 2003, the Tufts Division of Infectious Diseases was awarded a 7 year, $25M award by the NIH Food and Waterborne Diseases Integrated Research Network (F&WD-IRN) to establish a Microbiology and Botulism Research Unit. The Tufts Microbiology and Botulism Research Unit (MBRU) is directed by Dr. Saul Tzipori.

Foodborne illness is an ongoing major problem in the United States, which annually experiences approximately 76 million illnesses and 5,000 deaths due to foodborne pathogens. In 2003, the NIH selected six institutions to form the Food and Waterborne Diseases Integrated Research Network (F&WD-IRN). The MBRU at Tufts University is part of this network, and, together with the other five units, was established to develop and evaluate vaccines, therapeutics, rapid detection methods, body defenses, and microbiology and ecology of diseases transmitted between human and animals. The network's goal is to establish coordinated groups to enhance the United State's capacity to prevent, treat and control food and waterborne diseases that pose significant health risks to humans and are bioterrorist agents.

Scientists in the Microbiology Program within MBRU are charged with the task to identify and characterize multiple human pathogens that can cause human diseases in food or water suspected of either accidental or deliberate contamination. This includes the detection, identification and molecular characterization of food and waterborne diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, enteric protozoa, and enteric viruses.

NIH also requested that the MBRU create a Botulism Program with the primary goal to develop and evaluate antitoxin therapies against each of various botulinum neurotoxins. Botulism is a virulent and often deadly form of food poisoning affecting humans and animals. The extremely potent toxin that causes botulism is a Category A biodefense threat because of its ease of produce and dissemination, difficulties to treat, and potential to damage public health extensively. Researchers at MBRU at Tufts are collaborating with several other U.S. public and private institutions through different projects that are exploring novel approaches to botulism therapy.

Facilities:
The Microbiology and Botulism Research Unit (MBRU) is equipped to perform tasks that require expert knowledge, skills, equipment and resources to conduct diagnostic and investigational procedures in microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases in animals and humans, and to identify waterborne pathogens. This includes in particular, the detection, identification and molecular characterization of many enteric viruses, enteric bacteria and enteric protozoan pathogens. The RU currently has a biosafety level 2 facility and has capabilities in isolation and identification of several NIAID Category B priority viral, protozoa and bacterial pathogens. Commission of a biosafety level 3 facility is now complete. (Regional Biosafety Lab) We are also equipped with a state-of-art housing facility that includes holding rooms, a biocontainment suite, and a quarantine/isolation suite. (DTRR)

Expertise:
Immunology, Virology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Epidemiology, Diagnostics