Overview of Services
The Miami CFAR Laboratory Sciences Core provides immunologic, virologic and genomics services that foster technological advances while remaining cognizant of the HIV/AIDS research priorities of the NIH. Laboratory Core services are provided to assist investigators and fulfill Miami CFAR objectives and scientific areas of research.
Immunology Services
- PBMC: Human primary cell preparation of PBMC
- Blood and Body Fluids: Processing for storage of plasma, serum, and other bodily fluids
- Mucosal Specimens: Processing for storage of cytobrush, CVL supernatant and pellets, vaginal biopsies, microbiome swabs
- Soluble Biomarkers: Evaluation of cytokines and soluble mediators using standard and custom kits for biomarkers of choice in plasma, serum or cell culture supernatants by Luminex Flexmap 3D or ELISA.
- Microbial Translocation: Gut microbial translocation marker evaluation including plasma LPS binding protein, intestinal fatty acid binding protein and soluble CD14 and soluble CD163 assays
- Cell Sorting: Two-way 6 color cell sorting is available on the Sony SH800 for trained users. The instrument is also available for phenotypic analysis.
- Immunophenotyping: 25+ color flow cytometry instrument Cytek Aurora spectral flow cytometer is available for trained users. Flow cytometry assays (4-25 color staining) for surface or intracellular markers for T and B cell function and phenotype.
- Lymphocyte Function by Flow Cytometry: Antigen specific T and B cell assays are available on a collaborative basis.
- ELISPOT and Fluorospot: CTL Analyzers S6 Universal Immunospot instrument is available for Fluorospot and ELISPOT assays for assessment of antigen-specific T cell (IFN-γ, IL-2) and B cell (antibody) secretion by single cells
- COVID-19 Serology: Quantitative and qualitative SARS-CoV2 IgM, IgG and IgA Ab detection. Nucleocapsid and Spike RBD assays available on a collaborative basis.
- Hematology: Sysmex XP-300 hematology analysis for WBC and differential
- Biorepository: Biorepository for investigator-initiated studies. Repository management using Dataworks Development Freezerworks system for liquid nitrogen/ultralow freezer storage of cells, plasma, swabs, urine, stool, and PAXgene specimens for RNA or DNA studies. Alternatively, the LDMS repository management system is available for selected studies.
- Shipping: Temperature-controlled shipping using dry ice or dry nitrogen shipper
Virology Services
- Elutriated Human Monocytes for derivation of macrophages and use in HIV replication assays.
- Macrophage/Microglia Platforms: optimized protocols for maintenance of primary human macrophages and microglia in culture.
- Macrophage replication and latency models.
- Viral nucleic acid extraction and quantitation for viral reservoir analysis in clinical samples. These include assays for cell-associated viral RNA and DNA by Droplet Digital PCR (typically requires 3-5 million PBMCs, or 2-3 million purified CD4 cells)
- Primary Viral infectivity and Cell Replication Assays in CD4 T cells and macrophages to aid in the assessment of novel antiviral agents, assessment of viral fitness.
- Phenotypic Assays for HIV-1 drug resistance particularly for clinical samples from international cohorts in resource limited settings.
- Single Genome amplification mediated cloning of HIV from clinical samples and NextGen sequencing of viral genes for reservoir studies.
- Quantitative measures of SIV RNA and DNA for non-human primate studies.
- Viral Tropism Assays for assessment of macrophage and T cell tropism
- Assays for quantitation of SARS-CoV-2 DNA in saliva and nasal samples.
Genomic Services
- RNA-Seq & DNA-seq for a broad range of applications, input amounts and sample types.
- Single cell gene expression profiling, immune profiling, and multiomics on the 10X Genomics Chromium.
- Spatial genomics and protein expression studies using the nanoString GeoMX digital spatial profiler and the 10X Genomics Visium platforms
- Targeted viral sequencing including SARS-CoV-2
- 96-plex real-time PCR for single cells or low input cell populations using the Fluidigm BioMark HD
- nanoString gene expression and miRNA assays
- Shotgun sequencing for metagenomics and microbiome studies
- 16S sequencing for microbiome studies can be provided through an agreement with the University of Minnesota.
Microbiome Analysis
We can facilitate 16S microbiome analysis.
Leadership
Location and hours of operation
| Hours |
Location |
|
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
|
1580 NW 10th Avenue, 7th Floor
Miami, FL 33136
|
Links and Resources
- Laboratory Sciences Core Miller School of Medicine
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