The Core consists of four units including Respiratory Viral Production, Animal Physiology, Drug Delivery/Allergen-Challenge, and Cigarette Smoke Exposure Units.

1) Viral Production Unit. The Respiratory Viral Production Unit will provide standardized, fully-characterized respiratory viruses (HRV, HEV-D68, RSV, SeV and IAV) for use in human cells and the mouse model of acute infectious illness and post-viral asthma.

2). Animal Physiology Unit. The Mouse Physiology Unit houses instruments and personnel for invasive and non-invasive measurements of mouse lung function post-viral infection. Two BUXCO systems are currently on line within our laboratory space and will be utilized for lung physiology assessments. One system involves whole body plethysmography to assess airway reactivity through derivation of values for enhanced pause (Penh) following methacholine challenge (noninvasive), while the other involves invasive measurements of lung resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) following methacholine challenge using the Buxco FinePoint system.

3) Drug Delivery/ Allergen-Challenge Unit. This Unit is experienced in conventional methods of drug delivery to animals, including oral, parenteral, and inhaled routes. Allergen-challenge with house dust mite to test for viral exacerbation is described below.
4) Cigarette-Smoke Exposure Unit. The Cigarette Smoking Unit has provided their facility and expertise services over 16 years.