FACSAria Fusion cell sorter for Flow Cytometry Shared Resource

项目总结/文摘

Project Summary/Abstract The mission of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Flow Cytometry Shared Resource (FCSR) is to deliver high-throughput, multi-dimensional analysis and cell sorting using state-of-the-art equipment for UT Health San Antonio investigators and others in the San Antonio area. The FCSR occupies over 800 sq. ft. of laboratory space and is conveniently accessible in the center of campus. The FCSR accomplishes its mission by allowing access to quality-controlled, highly specialized technology, education and technical assistance in a cost-effective manner. All sorting demands for the entire campus are accomplished on two BD instruments, one of which is in an individual PI laboratory and unavailable to institutional users. The one sorter in the FCSR is heavily utilized and exceeds over 1500 hours of annual use, even though the maximum practical capacity is approximately 1300 hours. This overutilization of the current sorter coupled with the increasing demand and increasing downtime of this 17-year-old instrument due to its unreliability, leads to loss of valuable samples and scheduling wait times of 2-3 weeks. In addition, a number of our users are sorting unique and highly valued samples from human patients that become available on short notice and are in limited quantity. Accommodating these users has become increasingly difficult due to the long wait times for sorter time and the frequent downtime for the current sorter. Additionally, the performance and capabilities of the current sorter are not sufficient to meet the increasing demand for higher parameter cell sorting. With the purchase of a 5-laser 40- parameter Cytek Aurora full spectrum cell analyzer in June of 2019, many of our users have transitioned or are in the process of transitioning to more complex >15-parameter analyses. The current BD FACSAria IIIu lacks the ability to translate these panels into cell sorting for further downstream assays, thus limiting the research of many of our most frequent users. This proposal is for purchase of a BD FACSAria Fusion cell sorter equipped with five lasers (355, 405, 488, 561, and 637nm) capable of analyzing up to 18 different colors plus Forward and Side Scatter. The instrument will provide desperately needed additional sorting capacity for the FCSR and will also provide the capability for high parameter cell sorting and better detection and sorting of rare cell populations. We are also requesting the optional integrated Baker Class II Type A2 biosafety hood and integrated Aerosol Management System to accommodate sorting at BSL-2 containment.