Infrastructure

We currently have four analytical flow cytometers – three conventional instruments (two CytoFlex S, one CytoFlex LX; Beckman Coulter) and one full spectrum instrument (Aurora; Cytek) for multicolor flow cytometric analysis and two cell sorters (FACSAria IIIu, FACSMelody; BD Biosciences) for high-speed viable cell sorting (FACS) available in our facility. In addition, a Luminex®-based suspension bead array system (Bio-Plex 200; BioRad) is available for high-througput immunological quantitation of multiple analytes (proteins, peptides, RNA) in biological fluids. We also offer the NanoSight NS300 platform (Malvern) which uses NTA (nanoparticle tracking analysis)-technology to measure the size and concentration of small particles in liquid suspension. For offline data analysis, there are two dedicated workstations available which have various software packages for cytometry data analysis installed (FlowJo, FCSExpress, ModFit, Kaluza, CytExpert and SpectroFlo).

All our instruments except the FACSAria sorter are available for self-use 24/7 and must be booked via the MS Outlook calendar. First-time users must demonstrate proficiency and complete an inital training class at the instrument in order to get access. The FACSAria sorter is operated by facility staff only. Please contact us for a sort appointment. The core facility staff maintains all instruments and regularly runs QC protocols to ensure the highest level of performance.

You can download the optical configuration of the analytical flow cytometers and the sorters as pdf-file by clicking on the instrument‘s name.

Instrumentation

Analyzers

CytoFlex SI (Beckman Coulter): 4 lasers (violet 405nm, blue 488nm, yellow-green 561nm, red 638nm), 13 fluorescence parameters , 3 scatter parameters (FSC, SSC, VSSC), equipped with plate loader for 96-well plates (U-, V-, and flat bottom)
Location: ZMF I, room: EG-016
CytoFlex SII (Beckman Coulter): 4 lasers (violet 405nm, blue 488nm, yellow-green 561 nm, red 638nm), 13 fluorescence parameters , 3 scatter parameters (FSC, SSC, VSSC), equipped with plate loader for 96-well plates (U-, V-, and flat bottom)
Location: ZMF II, room: MC1.B.06.030
CytoFlex LX (Beckman Coulter): 5 lasers (UV 355nm, violet 405nm, blue 488nm, yellow-green 561nm, red 633nm), 19 fluorescence parameters, 3 scatter parameters (FSC, SSC, VSSC)
Location: ZMF I, room: EG-016
Aurora (Cytek): spectral flow cytometer with 4 lasers (UV 355m, violet 405nm, blue 488nm, red 633nm), 54 fluorescence detectors, 3 scatter detectors (FSC, SSC, VSSC)
Location: ZMF I, room: EG-016

Sorters

FACSAria IIIu (BD): 4 lasers (violet 405nm, blue 488nm, yellow-green 561nm, red 633nm), 13 fluorescence parameters, 2 scatter parameters (FSC, SSC); bulk-sorting into tubes or plates, single cell sorting, 4-way sorting (simultaneous sorting of up to 4 populations); available nozzle sizes: 70 µm, 85 µm, 100 µm
Location: ZMF I, room: EG-021
FACSMelody (BD): 3 lasers (violet 405nm, blue 488nm, red 633nm), 9 fluorescence parameters, 2 scatter parameters (FSC, SSC); bulk-sorting into tubes or plates, single cell sorting, 4-way sorting (simultaneous sorting of up to 4 populations); available nozzle size: 100 µm
Location: ZMF I, room: EG-019

Other instruments

Bio-Plex 200 (Bio-Rad): Multiplex suspension array system based on Luminex® xMAP-technology for simultaneous quantitation of multiple analytes (e.g. cytokines) in 96-well plates using specific antibodies coupled to magnetic beads in small sample volumes with high sensitivity.
Location: ZMF I, room: EG-016
NanoSight NS300 (Malvern): A laser-based instrument featuring nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) that uses the properties of light scattering and Brownian motion to obtain the size distribution and concentration of small particles (fluorescent and non-fluorescent) from 10nm to 2µm in liquid suspension.
Location: ZMF I, room: EG-010
Analysis workstations with specialized software for data analysis: FlowJo, FCSExpress, ModFit, Kaluza, CytExpert, SpectroFlow