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Biological Preparation

Two separate cell culture laboratories, for either bacterial work (ETB 425) or mammalian work (ETB 420), are approved for Biosafety Level (BSL)-2 research. Each BSL-2 lab contains Class II Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC, NSF 49 certified), centrifuges, incubators, and other basic equipment necessary for cell culture. The bacterial culture lab also has a plate reader (Tecan M200) and a Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorter (FACS, Biorad Aria III). The mammalian culture lab additionally houses an automated mammalian cell counter (Invitrogen) and cryo-storage (Thermo Fisher). A third lab in the Biological Preparation suite (ETB 435), designated BSL-1, houses various equipment for media/supply sterilization, cell observation, disruption, ultracentrifugation, amplification, chromatography and analysis.

Contact

Dr. Marta Princz

Research Lab Technician

Resource Listing

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Autoclaves (Tuttnauer)

Various autoclaves available. Please view article for more details.

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Balances

Various balances available. Please view article for more details.

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Biological Safety Cabinets

Energy-efficient Class II, Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC; Baker SterilGard) provide protection to the sample, user and working environment with momentum air curtains, cable ports, and HEPA filters, even while the sash is closed, due to Baker’s ReadySAFE Technology.

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Cell Counter – Countess Automated Cell Counter (Invitrogen)

The Invitrogen Countess Cell Counter easily counts live and dead cells accurately and fast - displaying visual results in 30 seconds! The instrument uses Trypan blue staining with image analysis software to provide cell density and viability data for 5-60 um cell populations between 104-107 cells/mL.

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Cryostorage – CryoPlus 1 (Thermo Scientific)

The Thermo Scientific CryoPlus 1 (Model 7400) is a liquid nitrogen storage system equipped with digital temperature display, liquid and vapour phase level monitoring, liquid nitrogen autofill system and alarm systems. It has a high storage capacity of over 5300 (2mL) cryovials.

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Culture Lab – Bacterial (ETB 425)

Various pieces of equipment available. Please view article for more details.

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Culture Lab – Mammalian (ETB 420)

Various pieces of equipment available. Please view article for more details.

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Freeze Dryer (Labconco)

The 6L Labconco FreeZone® Freeze Dryer System is designed for laboratory lyophilization procedures, whereby water or solvent is removed from frozen material through sublimation.

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Gel Electrophoresis – Various

Various options available. Please view article for more details.

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Gel Electrophoresis Imaging – Chemidoc MP (Biorad)

The Chemidoc MP is a highly sensitive, multitasking imaging system that allows UV, chemiluminescent, fluorescent and white light imaging as well as stain free technology providing reproducible quantitative results. Three LED modules (red, green and blue) allow detection of all common fluorescent dyes (Alexa Fluor, DyLight, Cy, Qdot).

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Incubators

Various incubators available. Please view article for more details.

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Liquid Chromatography – AKTA Systems (GE Healthcare Life Sciences)

Various options available. Please view article for more details.

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Microscopes Upright and Inverted Bright Field & Fluorescence (Olympus)

Various microscopes available. Please view article for more details.

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PCR Detection Systems – CFX C1000 Thermal Cyclers with Dual 48/48, CFX96 & CFX384 Modules (Biorad)

Various options available. Please view article for more details.

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pH and Conductivity Measurements

Various options available. Please view article for more details.

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Plate Reader – Infinite M200 Pro (Tecan)

The BI biological suite houses two Tecan Infinite M200 Pro plate readers capable of absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence measurements. The units can perform single wavelength measurements and/or wavelength scans, multiple reads per well, while plates are exposed to varying temperature and shaking.

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Ultracentrifuge (Thermo-Fisher)

The Thermo Scientific Sorvall WX90 Ultracentrifuge offers quiet, safe and powerful separation, with high speeds up to 90,000 rpm (692,000 x g).