Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with Washington University, in which Charles River will utilize WU’s novel murine norovirus and culture system. Murine norovirus (MNV) was discovered to be a non-enveloped RNA virus which has the potential to infect laboratory mice. To protect the integrity of research animals, a reliable testing method is desired to rule out the possibility of murine infection by this pathogen. Utilizing Washington University’s culture system technology, Charles River’s Research Animal Diagnostic Services division has expanded its comprehensive portfolio of assays for screening of mouse samples by creating assays to detect MNV.

William Barbo, CRL’s corporate vice president, Research Model Services, said, “Charles River is pleased to join Washington University in this licensing agreement. Utilizing the innovative MNV technology developed in the laboratories of Dr. Skip Virgin at the university, Charles River will continue to be in the forefront of laboratory animal diagnostic testing.”