Welcome to the UCCS Center for the BioFrontiers Institute Core Facility.  BioFrontiers offers instruments  and laboratory space to users both within the University system and to community users.   We provide access to instrumentation that may be beyond the purchasing budgets of many users, as well as, the experience and expertise to assist in productive data generation.

Information and Scheduling:         Please contact Bill Townend at 719-255-3123 or wtownend@uccs.edu.

Funding Assistance:      Grants may be available from Biofrontiers to users who may not be able to fully fund instrument use.  Projects that need equipment upgrades may be possible also.   Please complete the Grant Application and submit to Bill Townend in A415 or via email.

INSTRUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR USE

• FC500 Flow Cytometer  Beckman/Coulter $40/hour
• StepOne Real Time PCR Applied Biosystems   $10/hr
• TCS SP5 Confocal Microscope System  Leica  $30/hr
• Coulter Counter  $4/hr

       Please inquire regarding the following:

• Cell Culture Facilities: Biosafety Hoods, Incubators, centrifuges, liquid nitrogen storage.
• Analysis Equipment: spectrophotometer, fluorimeter, Calorimeter.

Note:  Adequate experience and/or training is required for individual usage as well as current lab safety training credentials.  Biofrontiers personnel are happy to help with consultation and initial setup without charge.  Biofrontiers reserves the right to observe and monitor all procedures.  BioFrontiers assistance is available at $20/hr.

 FC500 Flow Cytometer - Beckman/Coulter

Flow cytometers are used to rapidly analyze particles one at a time which allows the identification of numerous subpopulations a statistically significant numbers.  Flow rates of 3000 particles per second are possible on this instrument.  Cells are the usual particles analyzed. Up to 24 parameters can be measured; 16 parameters simultaneously. Particle size range from 0.5 to 40 microns.

These parameters can be measured on either a linear or a 4 decade log scale. Normally the parameters are forward scatter (FS), side scatter (SS), and five fluorescent wavelengths at 525, 575, 620,675, and 755 nm.  Two laser excitation wavelengths are available 488nm and 635 nm.  The lasers are coaxial. Additional parameters are peak, time, and ratio.

Samples may be run in 12x75 mm tube, 96 well plates or 24 well plates.

 StepOne Plus Real-Time PCR - Applied Biosystems

The system can be used to detect and quantify DNA and other real-time PCR applications.  This instrument uses a 96 well plate and 4 colors.

Detailed information on the RealTime PCR machine can be found at: http://tools.invitrogen.com/content/sfs/brochures/cms_042763.pdf                                                                                                              The use of this instrument will require the user to provide assays, reagents and other materials for the test desired – we can assist with the ordering of necessary materials.

 TCS SP5 Confocal Microscope - Leica

The SP 5 laser scanning confocal microscope uses laser excitation for fluorescent and transmitted light measurements.  There are three PMTs to collect fluorescent emissions. Another PMT can be used to collect transmitted information.  The fluorescence collection system allows the filters to be changed in bandwidth and wave length from 360-780? nm.

A motorized stage in  x, y, and z allows relocation acquisitions and 3 d reconstructions to be done.

Up to 7 laser excitation wavelengths can be used: 405 nm, 456 nm, 488 nm, 514nm, 532 nm, 633 nm.

Objectives

63x  1.4-0.60 na oil   ~   40x 1.3 na oil    ~     20x  0.70 na air    ~    10x 0.25 na air

Visual Filter         Ex                          Dm             Em                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     A cube                  BP340-380           400         LP 425

I3 cube                 BP 450-490          510         LP 515

N2.1 cube            BP 515-560          580         LP 590

Lasers

Diode 405 nm    ~    Argon 458, 476, 488, 514 nm     ~     DPSS 561 nm    ~    HeNe 633 nm

  Coulter Counter Z2

The Z2 counts particles passing through an orifice based on the change of electrical resistance in the orifice.  This allows not only counting of the particles but also allows  sizing based on the  resistance change.