Instruments & Facilities

Bio-Rad AutoDG QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System

Automated Droplet Generator & PCR Thermal Cyclers

The Bio-Rad AutoDG QX200 ddPCR system consists of an automated droplet generator that subdivides each sample into ~20,000 individual droplets. Each droplet constitutes an individual PCR reaction that releases a fluorophore in the presence of the target DNA sequence.  

Bio-Rad AutoDG QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System

Fluorescence Droplet Counter

Following the PCR reaction, individual droplets are then counted in the droplet reader.  The Droplet reader is a specialized flow cytometer, which quantifies the number of fluorescent vs. non fluorescent droplets. The results are then used to calculate the quantity of target sequences in the original sample with high precision.

QIACube 

The QIACube is an automated DNA sample prep system. In addition to reducing labor, the QIACube improves the precision and repeatability of the sample preparation, improving data quality over manual sample prep.  

ABS (Thermo) Step One Plus qPCR

qPCR is the traditional approach to quantitative DNA/RNA analysis. Due to its speed and reduced cost, qPCR excels at rapid detection of pathogen indicators for recreational water quality and microbial source tracking.  To the left of the qPCR instrument is one of our HEPA filtered PCR workstations.

Oxford Nanopore Next Generation Sequencing

The sequencing workstations allow direct long read sequencing of pathogen genomes and are useful for variant detection and novel variant identification. The Nanopore sequencers are also useful for other sequencing workflows such as 16S ribosomal RNA/microbiomics studies.  The high performance computer workstations permit rapid data analysis. 

BSL II Biosafety Cabinets

Biosafety cabinets allow the safe work with pathogens. HEPA filtered air flow prevents pathogens from escaping the biosafety cabinet, and a combination of chemical and UV sterilization ensures that pathogens are destroyed.  The EMBL has two biosafety cabinets - one dedicated to ddPCR analysis, and a second for filtering and ancillary analyses of biohazardous samples. 

Ultralow Temperature (-80 oC) Freezer

The -80 oC freezer is used for long term sample storage due to its improved preservation of RNA samples.

Shaking Incubator

The temperature controlled orbital shaking incubator is primarily used for sample extraction, but is also useful for controlled culture incubation.  Two refrigerated microcentrifuges can also be seen on the left.

Large Capacity Centrifuge

The large capacity refrigerated centrifuge has multiple rotors, and can accommodate all common sample sizes up to 1 L bottles.

Controlled Atmosphere Glove Box

The controlled atmosphere glove box allows work with air sensitive samples in the laboratory by replacing the air inside the glove box with an oxygen free inert gas.