Letter from the Director
 
The Filariasis Repository Service was first funded by the NIAID/NIH in 1968.  The overall objective of the Repository has been, and continues to be, to facilitate and stimulate research in filariasis.  Originally, the Repository offered five filarial parasites (Brugia malayi, B. pahangi, Dirofilaria immitis, Litomosoides sigmodontis and Acanthocheilonema viteae), but over time this number was reduced to three species (B. malayi, B. pahangi and D. immitis), due mainly to investigator needs and limited funds.  These parasites are maintained in the laboratory by alternate passage through mammalian definitive hosts and arthropod vectors.  Maintenance of the arthropod colonies is very complex and specialized, and filarial parasites have inherently long life cycles.  Methods of in vitro culture are severely limited, and many studies are dependent upon the accumulation of substantial amounts of parasites and associated materials.  The Repository has served as a unique supply source of filarial research materials and technical information for investigators who are not able to cyclically maintain these parasites due to expense, lack of expertise or lack of space and as a backup facility for investigators who experienced difficulties with their own colonies. 

Recently, the Filariasis Repository Service was expanded to include molecular resources through a subcontract, with Dr. Steve Williams as Director (the Filarial Genome Project, Resource Center, Smith College).  Dr. Williams’ laboratory has kindly established this Web Site for both the biological and molecular components of this new Filariasis Research Reagent Resource Center (FR3).  The Center has enabled us to (1) establish this Resource Center Web Site, containing registration and ordering information, a list of materials offered (with limits) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for maintaining parasites and vector organisms, (2) publish information about the materials offered through print and electronic media, (3) offer a training course and protocol information regarding the handling of filarial materials, and (4) cryopreserve valuable parasite materials for long-term preservation.  In addition, a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) consisting of no more than three scientists knowledgeable in various aspects of filariaisis research was established recently.  The SAC provides advice to the Center and to NIAID on the needs of the scientific community for research parasites and molecular materials and on the prioritization of molecular biologican and /or genomic acquisitions as they become available.  The SAC members serve approximately three-year terms. The SAC meets with the Directors of the biological and molecular components of the Center on an annual basis, usually in conjunction with annual scientific meetings or conferences.  

This Web Site will be updated periodically, as needed.