UTBM - Biological and molecular techniques unit
GINYS-ICRA-003
Àlex Sánchez Melsió
Cap d'Unitat
The Biological and Molecular Techniques Unit (BMTU) is specialized in the molecular analysis of a wide variety of aqueous matrices (human consumption sources, river biofilm, sediments, wastewater, activated sludge) from high quality extraction of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
The application of molecular techniques such as PCR and qPCR allows the detection and quantification of any target gene in the user’s samples. The unit (BMTU) has specialized in the quantification of resistance genes from a wide range of antibiotic families (ARGs), in agreement with the compounds detected by the UEM, promoting the transversality of the laboratories that compose the SCT.
The BMTU also has a Radioactive Facility with non-encapsulated sources. This allows the study of 3H, 14C, 35S radionuclides by using an equipment recommended for samples that require a high level of sensitivity.
The application of molecular techniques such as PCR and qPCR allows the detection and quantification of any target gene in the user’s samples. The unit (BMTU) has specialized in the quantification of resistance genes from a wide range of antibiotic families (ARGs), in agreement with the compounds detected by the UEM, promoting the transversality of the laboratories that compose the SCT.
The BMTU also has a Radioactive Facility with non-encapsulated sources. This allows the study of 3H, 14C, 35S radionuclides by using an equipment recommended for samples that require a high level of sensitivity.
Services
Study of bacterial communities
Characterization and quantification of gene elements related to anthropogenic activity
Characterization and quantification of the resistome
Acute toxicity (microtox) and mutagenicity (Ames test) analysis in water samples
Analysis of radioisotopes (3H, 14C, 35S)
Sample storage service at -80ºC
Equipment
- High performance centrifuge, Avanti J-26 XPI, Beckman Coulter.
- Low activity liquid scintillation analyzer, TriCarb 2910 TR, Perkin-Elmer.
- Gel Documentation System, GelDoc Xr+, Bio-rad.
- Cytometer, Attune NxT Azul, Fisher Scientific.
- Ultrafreezer, TDE Series -86ºC (422L), Fisher Scientific.
- Homogenizer, FastPrep 24, MP Biomedicals.
- Microtox, Model 500, SDI Environmental.
- Quantitative PCR thermal cycler, CFX96, Bio-rad.
- Conventional PCR thermal cycler, 2720, Applied Biosystems.
- Gradient PCR thermal cycler, Veriti, Applied Biosystems.
- Qubit fluorometer, 2.0, Invitrogen.
