ABOUT US

The Cytometry Center, headed by Dr. Amir Grau, is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art instrumentation, consultation, and expertise in flow and mass cytometry to the research and clinical community of the Haifa area, including both academic and non-academic institutes and their affiliates.

Our staff and instrumentation are compatible with a wide variety of flow cytometry applications and techniques while providing instrument support and one-on-one assistance to researchers in designing flow cytometry experiments, operating the instrumentation, and analyzing their data.

We operate a FACSymphony A5 spectral-enabled cell analyzer system which also has a high throughput sampler (HTS) option for fully automated sample acquisition from 96 well plates, two FACS Fortessa analyzers (one is also equipped with HTS), a BD FACSDiscover S8 spectral-enabled cell sorter with sort-capable image analysis, a 13-color FACS AriaIIIu cell sorter, a BD FACSMelody cell sorter, a Bio-Plex MAGPIX Multiplex Reader, and a Helios third generation mass cytometer system capable of measuring more than 50 parameters at the single cell level.

Our team will be happy to introduce you to the technology and its utility for your R&D.

INTRODUCTION

Flow (and mass) cytometry is a sophisticated analytical technique utilized in both clinical and research settings to assess the physical and chemical properties of cells or particles. By suspending cells in a fluid and passing them through a laser beam, the technique measures light scatter and fluorescence, providing detailed insights into cell size, granularity, and surface molecules. This method is pivotal for cell phenotyping, sorting, and diagnosing diseases. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in various research applications, including cell function studies, microorganism detection, and DNA analysis. The rapid and precise analysis capabilities of flow cytometry make it an indispensable tool in modern biology and medicine.

The power of single-cell analysis is enhanced by the capability to simultaneously measure multiple parameters and to efficiently separate different cell populations through high-speed sorting. Up to six specific populations can be sorted based on distinct light scattering and fluorescence properties. In this advanced form of flow cytometry, cells are directed through lasers within a charged sheath fluid, where a decision is made regarding their selection for sorting. The cell stream then passes through a narrow, rapidly vibrating orifice, which causes it to break into droplets, each containing a single cell. The timing between a cell passing through the laser and the formation of the droplet is precisely controlled, ensuring that the interval between detecting the desired cell and its encapsulation in a droplet is consistent. This allows for the appropriate droplet containing the target cell to be charged. The droplets then move through high-voltage deflection plates, where charged droplets are redirected into a collection vessel, while uncharged droplets are directed to waste.

Cell sorting is a critical technique in biological research and clinical applications, used to isolate specific cell populations from a heterogeneous mixture. The ability to obtain homogeneous cell populations through sorting is invaluable for research, diagnosis, and therapeutic applications.

Acknowledgement and Co-Authorship

If data is generated in the Cytometry Center and contributes to a publication, please include an acknowledgment of the center with a statement like the one below:

“We thank Amir Grau/the FlowTeam/team member name from the Cytometry Center at the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine Biomedical Core Facility for his//her/their excellent support with the FACS/CYTOF technology.”

We encourage authorship on manuscripts for any center member who makes substantial contributions to experimental design or data analysis. For guidance on determining authorship eligibility based on contributions, please consult the guidelines from organizations like EMBO and ICMJE.