Expertise and infrastructure

Confocal microscopy

Nikon TiE-C2 confocal microscope with epifluorescence, DIC, motorized XYZ piezo stage, motorized objectives and DIC/fluorescence filters. Solid state lasers: 405nm, 488nm, 561nm with AOTF modulation. 3 PMTs + 1 transmission PMT. Objectives: 4x CFI Plan Achromat (NA 0.1, dry), 20x CFI Plan Apochromat VC (NA 0.75, dry), 40x CFI Plan Apochromat (NA 1.25, water immersion), 60x Plan Apochromat (NA 1.20, water immersion). Software: NIS elements.

DNA sequencing

Sanger sequencing:

Applied Biosystems 3130XL Genetic Analyzer with 16 capillaries.

Next Generation Sequencing:

Oxford Nanopore Minion Sequencing.

Bioanalyzer:

Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer.

Applications: RNA quantification and separation, DNA quantification and separation, Protein quantification and separation.

Microcalorimetry

Thermal Activity Monitor 2277, Thermometric.  Our group has expertise in non-disruptive real-time live quantification of metabolic rate of small cultures or organisms (C. elegans, Saccharomyces, Drosophila, human cell cultures, ants, …). 

Automated Particle Morphometry

RapidVue (Beckman Coulter): an image analysis system for automated morphometry of small particles (20 um to 2 mm) in solution. In a cycling solution, groups of passing particles are analyzed with rates of up to 30 frames per second.  Several parameters can be selected, such as particle length, width, aspect ratio, etc.

Biolistic transformation and Microinjection

Transgenesis of small organisms.  

Bio-Rad Biolistic® PDS-1000/He Particle Delivery System: This system accelerates nucleic acid–coated gold or tungsten microparticles (0.6–1.6 µm) to velocities necessary to transfect cells, tissues, organelles or small organisms. The system uses a burst of high-pressure helium gas to accelerate a plastic macrocarrier disk carrying microparticles toward the target.

Microinjection system: Zeiss Axiovert + Eppendorf precision pump and micromanipulators + needle puller.  This setup can be used for microinjection of genetic material or compounds into cells or small organisms.