qPCR apparatus for a multidisciplinary core platform

用于多学科核心平台的 qPCR 设备

• 批准号: RTI-2022-00622
• 负责人: Germain, Hugo
• 金额: $ 4.4万
• 依托单位: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=743088
• 关键词: qPCR; apparatus; multidisciplinary; core; platform

Quantitative real-time PCR is a widely used analytical method in biological sciences, such as molecular biology, virology, forensic science, ecology, developmental biology and many more. Recently, quantitative real-time PCR has raised to public awareness as the cornerstone of COVID-19 testing throughout the world. The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivieres has regrouped several of its analytical instruments in cellular biology within a core technological platform which includes, among other equipment, a confocal microscope, fluorescent cell sorters and an advanced image analysis software. The platform also features a dual channel qPCR apparatus, which was initially purchased for one laboratory. Due to a massive hiring of young professors and students and the fact that an older qPCR apparatus has become obsolete, this dual channel qPCR apparatus is now used by nearly 70 HQP. The current qPCR is thus clearly overused and despite a reservation mechanism, its unavailability is restricting the progression of students' projects. More importantly, the fact that it has only a dual channel detection restricts its use to a limited range of applications. For example, it cannot be used for most forensic applications, which often require multiple colors TaqMan probes, COVID-19 testing (3-4 colors), and for most allele detection experiments. A more advance technology having 4+ colors is thus required to realize cutting-edge projects currently funded by NSERC and to improve the research possibilities and timeline of nearly 100 HQPs.

实时定量PCR是生物科学中广泛使用的分析方法，例如分子生物学、病毒学、法医学、生态学、发育生物学等。最近，定量实时PCR作为全球COVID-19检测的基石已引起公众的关注。魁北克大学在核心技术平台内重新组合了其细胞生物学分析仪器，其中包括共聚焦显微镜，荧光细胞分选仪和先进的图像分析软件。该平台还具有双通道qPCR装置，最初为一个实验室购买。由于大量雇用年轻教授和学生，以及旧的qPCR设备已经过时，这种双通道qPCR设备现在被近70名HQP使用。因此，目前的qPCR显然被过度使用，尽管有保留机制，但其不可用限制了学生项目的进展。更重要的是，它只有一个双通道检测的事实限制了它的使用范围有限的应用。例如，它不能用于大多数法医应用，这些应用通常需要多种颜色的TaqMan探针，COVID-19检测（3-4种颜色），以及大多数等位基因检测实验。因此，需要具有4+颜色的更先进的技术来实现目前由NSERC资助的尖端项目，并改善近100个HQP的研究可能性和时间轴。