Instruments

Chromium 10X Controller Single-Cell Sequencing Library Preparation System

The Chromium 10X Controller partitions single cells into an emulsion allowing for the sequencing of thousands of individual cells. The HCA Core also offers all the resources required for subsequent library preparation, quantification, and quality control.

Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer

The Agilent Bioanalyzer 2100 is a microfluidics based electrophoresis instrument designed to size, quantify and quality control DNA, RNA and protein. Each run is composed of a microfluidics chip based assay whereby the molecule of interest is electrophoresed through a pre-made polymer. Data is displayed as a monochromatic electropherogram or a gel image for user convenience. Quantification can either be calculated by using a single peak (such as a PCR product) or a size region (such as a DNA library).

QIAGEN QIAxcel

QIAxcel is a 12-channel capillary electrophoresis system that performs fully automated, high resolution separation of DNA fragments in the 15 bp to 10 kbp range. No gel preparation or handling is involved. The QIAxcel comes with ready-to-run cartridges that allow up to 95 samples to be analyzed at a time in a 12-strip tube or 96-well plate format. The QIAxcel ScreenGel software provides both gel images and electropherograms of the DNA separation and determines the size and concentration of DNA fragments. It can be used for single PCR screening, evaluation of plasmid DNA digestion, multiplex PCR and genotyping.

Illumina MiSeq

The Illumina MiSeq is a next generation sequencing platform capable of automated cluster amplification, sequencing by synthesis and primary sequencing analysis. A single MiSeq v3 run has the capacity to produce up to 50 million paired-end 300 bp sequencing reads combining for a total output of approximately 15 billion bases (15 Gb) of data. The MiSeq is compatible with the majority of Illumina's library construction and assay kits as well as a variety of other options offered by third party companies.

Bio-Rad CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR System

The Bio-Rad CFX96 Touch is a six-channel (five colors and one FRET channel) real-time PCR instrument combines advanced optical technology with precise temperature control to deliver sensitive, reliable detection for singlexplex or multiplex reactions.

Agilent Seahorse XFe96

The Agilent Seahorse XFe96 platform measures the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) which are key indicators of mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in live cells. Together these measurements provide a systems-level view of cellular metabolic function in cultured cells and ex vivo samples.

PerkinElmer Janus Expanded Deck Automated Liquid Handling System Enclosed in a Class I Biosafety Cabinet

The expanded deck Janus workstation is a dual-arm robotic liquid handling system. Equipped with an 8-tip Varispan dispensing arm, each tip is capable of independent movement for individual sample pipetting and liquid level sensing. Also, a 96/384 Modular Dispense Technology arm with plate-gripper functionality is adaptable for dispensing into microplates with up to 1536 wells. This system is entirely housed in a Class I Biosafety cabinet and is integrated with a Liconic incubator plate stack hotel.

PerkinElmer Janus Standard Deck Automated Liquid Handling System Enclosed in a Class II Biosafety Cabinet

The standard deck Janus workstation is a robotic liquid handling system containing a 96/384 Modular Dispense Technology arm with gripper functionality. This system is integrated with a 50-plate dual tower PlateStak and a thermal block shaker that is together entirely housed in a Class II Biosafety cabinet. This system gives us the capability of conducting experiments involving BSL2 cell culture.

PerkinElmer EnVision Multilabel Plate Reader

The EnVision plate reader is capable of high-speed dual wavelength emission detection of fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, time-resolved fluorescence, luminescence and absorbance. This reader accepts microplates with 1 to 3456 wells on a 50-plate stack magazine with a barcode reader for high throughput application. Chamber temperature can be regulated from +2°C above ambient to +45°C in less than 10 minutes. For simultaneous dispensing and reading, this plate reader is integrated with a twin pump injector that dispenses from a reagent storage compartment containing a magnetic stirrer and heater.

BioTek 405 TS Washer

The BioTek 405 TS is a microplate washer designed to efficiently wash cell-based assays, microsphere-based assays, and ELISA applications.

LI-COR Odyssey CLx Infrared Scanner

The LI-COR Odyssey CLx is a two-color infrared scanner that provides high signal-to-noise scans of membranes or of fixed cells in cell culture plates. Data acquired with the LI-COR Scanner can be analyzed using the free software ImageStudio for quantitative measurements of fluorescent signals.

Lonza 4D Nucleofector System

The Lonza 4D Nucleofector System enables highly efficient, transfection of primary cells, stem cells, neurons, and cell lines that have traditionally been difficult to transfect via electroporation and other non-viral transfection methods.

Screening Resources

The policy of our core is that our libraries are free to use in-house when conducting experiments that utilize our robotic liquid handling system. Also, with support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, there is no charge for consultation time in performing the project with you. Users will only be responsible for covering consumable costs, chiefly disposable robotic pipette tips, multi-well plates and plate seals, as well as any cell culture and assay reagents that you may require.

Our Libraries

  • siRNA Libraries
    • Human
      • Genome, Druggable, Kinases, Phosphatases, GPRC, Proteases, Cytokine Receptors, Immune, Cell Cycle, Apoptosis, Membrane Trafficking, Transcription Factors, DNA Damage Response, Ubiquitin Conjugation, Deubiquitinating Enzymes, Growth Factors / Receptors, Cell Adhesion and Cytoskeleton, Ion Channel and Transporters, Nucleic Acid Binding and Cell Surface, and Nuclear Receptors.
    • Mouse
      • Druggable, Kinases, and Phosphatases.
    • Drosophila
      • Genome, Kinases, and Phosphatases.
  • Compound Libraries
    • Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds (LOPAC) (1,280 Compounds)
    • TimTec Natural derivatives (3,040 Compounds)
    • MyriaScreen II (10,000 Compounds)
  • shRNA MISSION® Plasmid Library
    • Human and Mouse