Bio-Rad QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System

The QX200 allows extensive partitioning of nucleic acid samples into thousands of nanoliter-sized droplets, followed by well controlled PCR amplification and accurate end-point data acquisition. This third generation PCR technology enabls absolute quantification of target DNA copies per input sample without the need for running standard curves as well as eiminating error due to suboptimal amplification efficiency. It is highly sensitive and accurate to detect of rare (mutation) targets and enable precise copy number variation determination. Applications:

• Absolute quantification of target gene expression
• Rare mutation/ variant detection
• Copy Number Variation studies
• Pathogens load detection

Detailed configuration – QX200 ddPCR System

Standard Operation Protocol – QX200 ddPCR System

Usage charge of Droplet Reader: $160/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)
Location: L6-01 & L6-03, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Dr. TONG, Christy | 3917 9442

Roche LightCycler480 II Real-time PCR

A 96/384-well thermal block for high throughput experiment.

Roche LightCycler480 includes interchangeable 96-well & 384-well thermal block for high throughput experiment. Therma-Base technology allowsrapid and accurate temperature adjustment and exceptional well-to-well temperature homogeneity. Advanced optical system allows robust and accurate capturing of all data simultaneously.

Applications:

• Qualitative target detection
• Relative quantification of gene expression
• High resolution melting curve mutation analysis

Detailed configuration – LightCycler480

Standard Operation Protocol – LightCycler480

Office Hour Usage charge: $25/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)
Non-Office Hour Usage charge: $15/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)
Location: L6-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Mr. LAI Cyril | cycylai@hku.hk | 3917 7555

Agilent Fragment Analyzer

An automated capillary electrophoresis system with high sensitivity and resolution detection.

Fragment Analyzer is a high throughput nucleic acid analysis system to qualify and quantify a wide range of samples including cDNA, NGS library, PCR Fragment, Genomic DNA, total RNA etc. With automated samples intake as well as running 12 parallel capillaries electrophoresis and data acquisition at the same time, the Fragment Analyzer greatly accelerates the nucleic acid analysis in molecular workflow by processing maximum of 192 samples in a single operation. With improved sensitivities and resolution in detection, the analysis software provides accurate and detailed results on nucleic acid’s size distribution, concentration and quality for downstream processes.

Applications:

• NGS library quality control
• Post-PCR quantification and qualification of amplicons
• CRISPR mutation detection

Detailed configuration – Fragment Analyzer
Standard Operation Protocol – Fragment Analyzer

Usage charge: Free of charge
Location: L6-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Mr. LAI Cyril | cycylai@hku.hk | 3917 7555

Agilent Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer

A metabolic analyzer to measure and interrogate mitochrondrial oxidative respiration and cellular glycolysis.

Using patented label-free detection technology to measure Oxygen Consumption Rate and Extracellular Acidification Rate in living cells, the Agilent Seahorse XF Analyzer enables quick and easy real-time evaluation of cellular bioenergetic activities to allow better understanding of metabolism in normal cells as well as in wide variety of diseases. Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer allows high throughput assay in 96-well format for efficient study of complicated experiment, including extensive cells/treatments comparison or detailed dose-response analysis.

Applications:

• Metabolic phenotype characterization of cancer or other diseases
• Studying effect of genetic manipulation on cell’s energy production and metabolism.
• Immune cell activation profiling
• Drug screening

Office Hour Usage charge: $50/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)
Non-Office Hour Usage charge: $30/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)
Location: L6-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Mr. LAI Cyril | cycylai@hku.hk | 3917 7555

BMG CLARIOstar Plus

A Multifunction plate reader with advance option and comprehensive accessories. High End Multi-Mode Microplate reader with high efficiency Linear Variable Filter (LVF) Monochromators™, 2 Reagent injectors, and Atmospheric Control Unit. With advance option in detection parameters, component movement (focusing, sample mixing) and incubation control, it can meet most of the needs in nowadays high-throughput cell-based assay.
Applications:

• Measuring absorbance (220 – 1000 nm)
• Measuring Fluorescence intensity (ex 320-750nm em 350-850nm including FRET
• Measuring Luminescence, including BRET
• Measuring Time-resolved fluorescence (µs), Bioluminescence and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET / FRET)

With/Without incubation at 5%CO2/atmospheric air:
Office Hour Usage charge: $10/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)
Non-Office Hour Usage charge: $6/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)

With Hypoxic Incubation:
Office Hour Usage charge: $25/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)
Non-Office Hour Usage charge: $15/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)

Location: L6-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Ms. KWOK Mandy | mykwokab@hku.hk | 3917 9699

GE Amersham Typhoon5 Biomolecular Imager

A 4-in-1 multifunctional image scanner with 5 high power lasers and photomultiplier tubes (PMT)

Typhoon5 is a multifunctional image scanner with 5 high power lasers is designed for versatile imaging and precise quantitation of fluorescent, colorimetric, and radiolabelled proteins and nucleic acids. Signals captured by highly sensitivity photomultiplier tubes, Typhoon5 is having detection limit of as low as 3pg protein. Typhoon5 allows high throughput scanning of up to 20gels/membranes & 9-multi-well pates. Multiple stages are also available to accommodate various types of samples (animal tissue, gel, membrane, plate, dish, slide, phosphor screen…).

Applications:

• Fluorescence, optical density & phosphor imaging scanning of multiple sample types (e.g. blots, gels, dishes, plates, slides, tissues…)
• Fluorescence western blot
• Assay detection
• Microarray slides

Detailed configuration – GE Amersham Typhoon5 Biomolecular Imager

Standard Operation Protocol – GE Amersham Typhoon5 Biomolecular Imager

Office Hour Usage charge: $50/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)
Non-Office Hour Usage charge: $30/hour (for members in Faculty of Medicine)
Location: L2-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Ms. TSE Sharon | tssharon@hku.hk | 3917 9440

GE Amersham Imager 680 Blot and Gel Imager

Sensitive Imager for chemiluminescence & colorimetric signal capture.
AI680 is equiped with Peltier cooled Fujifilm Super CCD & superior FujinonTM lens which allow high sensitivity and high-quality imaging of chemiluminescence signal from Western blot. With inbuilt analysis software, intensity and molecular weight analysis can be measured instantly.
Applications:

• Detection of chemiluminescence signal from Western Blot
• Imaging of colorimetric stained gel

Detailed configuration – GE Amersham Imager AI680
Standard Operation Protocol – GE Amersham Imager AI680
Usage charge: Free of charge
Location: L2-01, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Ms. TSE Sharon | tssharon@hku.hk | 3917 9440

Bio-Rad Chemi-Doc XRS system

A versatile imager for caturing and quantifing signal in daily gel and blot assay Quick, high-resolution gel and blot imaging for qualitative and quantitative nucleic acid analysis. Universal hood with built-in white epi-illumination and UV transillumination designed to capture fluorescent and chemiluminescent images without using a photographic darkroom.

Applications:

• UV-excited gels documentation
• Chemiluminescent Detection of Western Blots
• Coomassie Blue-Stained Gel Image

Detailed Configuration – Bio-Rad Chemi-Doc XRS system
Standard Operation Protocol – Bio-Rad Chemi-Doc XRS system

Usage charge: Free of charge
Location: L5-03, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road
Staff-in-charge: Ms. CHAN Cherry | cyp1011@hku.hk | 3917 7556

NanoDrop 2000c Spectrophotometer

Quick and convenient device for estimation of nucleic acid concentration and putiry. NanoDrop offers dye-free, sensitive and accurate biomolecule quantification by UV absorbance. It can quantify DNA, RNA and protein samples in seconds with only 1–2 µL. Applications:

• Quantitation of dsDNA, ssDNA, RNA, and protein

Detailed Configuration – NanoDrop 2000c

Standard Operation Protocol – NanoDrop 2000c

Usage charge: Free of charge Location: L5-03, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road

Staff-in-charge: Ms. CHAN Cherry | cyp1011@hku.hk | 3917 7556