Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources Repository (BEI Resources)
BEI Resources was established to provide tools for research in biothreat agents and emerging infectious diseases.
BEI Resources acquires, authenticates and preserves and distributes reagents that scientists need to carry out basic research and develop improved diagnostic tests, vaccines, and therapies. By centralizing these functions within BEI Resources, access to and use of these materials in the scientific community is monitored and quality control of the reagents is assured.
Sponsors
A seven-year contract to manage BEI Resources was awarded by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases to ATCC in September 2003. The BEI Resources program reflects a coordinated effort between NIAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and ATCC.
BEI Resources Materials
BEI Resources is focused on acquiring and authenticating several categories of materials for the members of the research community that register for BEI Resources access. These include pathogens newly recognized in the past two decades, re-emerging pathogens and NIAID Category A, B and C agents.
Examples of re-emerging pathogens
Examples of NIAID Category A biothreat agents
-
Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)
-
Clostridium botulinum (botulism)
-
Yersinia pestis (plague)
-
Poxviruses
-
Francisella tularensis (tularemia)
-
Viral hemorrhagic fevers
-
Arenaviruses
-
Junin virus
Benefits of Depositing
In addition to supplying the biodefense community with materials, BEI Resources also encourages and supports the deposit of materials from researchers and institutions. Depositing materials with BEI Resources has many advantages to the researcher and the biodefense community including secure storage, community access and distribution; all while protecting the intellectual property rights of the depositor. |