Spectral Flow Cytometry for the Midlands

流式细胞术是生物科学中用于对液体中的细胞混合物进行计数和分析的方法。例如，免疫学家使用流式细胞术来计算血液样本中不同类型的免疫细胞。他们可以使用流式细胞术来识别不同的细胞类型，计数并分析它们。用荧光染料标记的抗体可用于识别具有特定特征的细胞。 流式细胞术的基础技术正在不断改进。在20世纪80年代，设备使用单一激光和分析2种颜色（即细胞特征）。多年来，激光器的数量和可能的颜色组合已经增加，传统流式细胞仪现在提供5+激光器和多达20种颜色的分析。光谱流式细胞术通过将基础技术从检测特定荧光团的特定波长范围改变为测量每个颗粒的全光谱，现在正在进一步推动该技术的边界。本申请中要求的Cytek Aurora是一款新发布的五激光光谱流式细胞仪，可测量多达40种颜色。最先进的光学器件和软件实现了这种整体高性能。这种光谱流式细胞仪提供的改进意味着研究人员可以在单个样本中测量更多的特征，从而改善细胞群的表征。与其他高性能流式细胞仪不同，该光谱流式细胞仪可应用于广泛的样品研究，包括植物细胞、细菌、酵母、小颗粒和哺乳动物细胞。 新设备将安装在诺丁汉大学的流式细胞仪设施中，并将扩展该设施的能力。该设施由大卫洋葱博士管理，在向整个联合国及其他地区的研究人员提供尖端流式细胞仪设施方面有着良好的记录。它在诺丁汉大学、中部地区创新大学集团以及对获得这项技术表示浓厚兴趣的行业建立了访问、收费和广泛客户名单的机制。该设施有完善的程序来管理访问和数据，制定向用户收费的成本计算模型，并培训新用户。

Flow cytometry is a method used in the biological sciences to count and profile mixtures of cells in a liquid. For example, immunologists use flow cytometry to work out the different types of immune cells in a blood sample. They can use flow cytometry to identify the different cell types, count them and profile them. Antibodies labelled with fluorescent dyes can be used to identify cells with specific features. The technology underlying flow cytometry is continually improving. In the 1980s, equipment utilised a single laser and analysis of 2 colours (i.e. cell features). Over the years, the number of lasers and the possible colour combinations has increased with the conventional flow cytometers now offering 5+ lasers and analysis of up to 20 colours. Spectral flow cytometry, by changing the underlying technology from detection of a specific wavelength range for a particular fluorophore to measurement of the full optical spectrum for each particle, is now pushing the boundaries of the technology even further. The Cytek Aurora, requested in this application, is a newly released five-laser spectral flow cytometer that can measure up to 40 colours. State-of-the-art optics and software enables this overall high performance. Together the improvements offered by this spectral flow cytometer mean that researchers can measure more features within a single sample, leading to improved characterisation of cell populations. Unlike other high performance flow cytometers, this spectral flow cytometer can be applied to the study of a broad range of samples, including plant cells, bacteria, yeast, small particles and mammalian cells. The new equipment will be located in the University of Nottingham's Flow Cytometry facility and will extend the capability of that facility. The facility, managed by Dr David Onion, has an excellent track record in delivering cutting-edge flow cytometry facilities to researchers across the UoN and beyond. It has established mechanisms for access, charging and an extensive client list both at the University of Nottingham, across the Midlands Innovation group of universities, and in industry that have indicated keen interest in gaining access to this technology. The facility has well-established processes in place for managing access and data, developing costing models for charging users and training new users.