# Mouse and Infection Models

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2024 · $517,948

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The Mouse and Infection Models Core (Core B), will be directed by Dr. Hamilton Hart, with Dr.
Niedernhofer as Co-I. This is an integral component of the PPG. The Core will be utilized by all
three proposed projects and will allow PPG investigators to examine senescence and different
immunological features of young and aged mice exposed to pathogens using both wildtype mice
and genetically engineered mouse strains. Our recent studies determined that the vulnerability
of aged mice to infection can be overcome with either short term senolytic treatment or genetic
ablation of senescent cells, which reduced SASP levels and supported the development of anti-
viral responses. This proposal will expand upon these novel findings and develop a mechanistic
understanding of how the senescent cell burden, which increases with age and disease, affects
the response of specific immune cell populations after infection. Core B will generate and
validate stocks of acute viruses and expose mice to a diverse microbial milieu via pet store
mouse fomite bedding. We will produce mouse lines composed of chronologically aged mice
and comparison young mouse cohorts. We will also characterize and expand novel mouse
models generated by Project 1 in which accelerated aging is driven in specific immune cells and
in which cells expressing senescence markers p16 and p21 can be identified or inducibly
ablated. Centralizing the breeding, maintenance, and expansion of these different mouse strains
allows for comparison and standardization of results between the three inter-related projects
and increased efficiency while reducing cost. Centralizing the infection paradigms and
employing quality control standards will increase the rigor of experiments. Lastly, to further
ensure rigor and reproducibility, Core B will utilize a unique data base called MouseCloud, to
track mice and tissues as they are generated and distributed for use by the Projects and Core
C. These unique tools will be used to test project-specific hypotheses focused on how
senescence in distinct cell types contribute to immune dysfunction.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10767635
- **Project number:** 1P01AI172501-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Sara Elizabeth Hamilton Hart
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $517,948
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-03-11 → 2029-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10767635

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10767635, Mouse and Infection Models (1P01AI172501-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10767635. Licensed CC0.

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