First Whitley Laminar Flow Workstation Launched

Don Whitley Scientific is thrilled to announce the launch of the new Whitley A135 Laminar Flow Workstation. For over 40 years, DWS has enjoyed a reputation as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of anaerobic workstations. As the needs of our customers have evolved over the last four decades - so too have our products.

Our Anaerobic Range comes in all shapes and sizes; the most compact can accommodate 200 Petri dishes, whilst the largest can house up to 1,400. For work which requires the ability to operate large pieces of laboratory equipment in a strictly controlled anaerobic environment, the A135 and A155 offer internal volumes of 950 and 1,900 litres respectively. 

The next step for DWS was to develop innovative laminar flow technology. The Whitley A135 Laminar Flow Workstation is a truly unique* product that provides highly effective product protection. Combining laminar flow technology with our expertise in designing and manufacturing anaerobic workstations, we have successfully created a laminar flow workstation that allows users to process samples under strict anaerobic conditions.

Learn more about this revolutionary product here.

Source: https://www.dwscientific.com/blog/first-wh...

HEPA Filtration Now Available on Whitley Workstations with 30 Litre Airlocks →

Don Whitley Scientific announces that all Whitley 85 and 95 sized workstations are now available with the Whitley Internal HEPA Filtration System.

The Whitley Workstation range includes models suitable for Anaerobic, Microaerobic and Hypoxic applications. Within each of these categories, there are 2 models equipped with 30 litre airlocks. The A/M/H85 Workstations can accommodate up to 610 x 90mm Petri dishes, whereas the A/M/H95 Workstations have capacity of double this amount.

With a 30 litre airlock, 90 x 90mm Petri dishes can be introduced to the workstation at once, with the airlock cycle taking only 5 minutes. In addition, the portholes on both 85 and 95 Workstations function as mini-airlocks; allowing for the introduction of 10 plates at a time.

Recently we have been working to develop variations of these models fitted with the unique Whitley Internal HEPA Filtration System, and are now pleased to announce the addition of these 6 additional variants to our range.      

With HEPA filtration, the entire atmosphere inside the workstation passes through the filter hundreds of times an hour; ensuring the chamber environment is cleaned quickly. DWS filters are located inside the workstation, which prevents the filter becoming saturated with moisture and rendered ineffective.

The internal atmosphere is circulated continuously - contributing to even temperature distribution and ensuring any internal particulates will be in motion before capture by the filter. Levels of atmospheric cleanliness inside the workstation exceed the requirements of ISO 14644 Class 3. Proof of atmospheric cleanliness can be provided on request.

WASP Touch and ProtoCOL3 play key part in Australian Lab →

A research and development lab at the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (Sydney, Australia) recently purchased a WASP Touch Spiral Plater and ProtoCOL3 colony counter. The lab is carrying out research on food safety of fresh horticultural produce and nuts. The head of the research program, Dr S P Singh, spoke to Don Whitley Scientific to explain how these two new products, provided by DWS, are key to his team’s working processes.

Dr Singh and his colleagues are exploring fresh options when it comes to food safety: “We are developing new ways of sanitising the produce by killing potential foodborne bacterial pathogens”. The produce his lab are sanitising is often used for export, meaning this is a vital process to ensure safety for the consumer. Dr Singh explains that “we have to deal with hundreds of samples everyday” meaning “plating and enumeration is a core lab activity”.

The lab’s project was recently featured on NBN News http://www.nbnnews.com.au/2017/11/10/world-first-food-sanitiser-at-ourimbah/. The project is a world’s first and to sanitise food without the use of chemicals could be a revolutionary step forward in food safety.

Examining the Role of Autophagy in Hypoxic Tumours

Hypoxystation users Tan et al. at the University of Toronto published a paper in June examining the significance of autophagy in cancer development (“Role of Autophagy as a Survival Mechanism for Hypoxic Cells in Tumors“, Neoplasia (2016) 18, 347-355). Autophagy as a means of recycling cell components is induced under stress conditions such as hypoxia, and Tan et al. investigated the correlation of hypoxia and autophagy in solid tumours in the context of resistance to cancer therapeutics.

Cells were cultured in the H35 Hypoxystation for up to 48 hours at hypoxia (0.2 %) and compared to cells grown at ambient oxygen level. Gene silencing of autophagy proteins ATG7 and BECLIN1 with shRNA resulted in decreased cell survival under hypoxia, and inhibition of autophagy with pantoprazole exacerbated the loss of viability in the knock-down cells under hypoxia, demonstrating the cyto-protective effects of these autophagy proteins. Using the Seahorse XFe Analyzer to assess oxygen consumption in wild-type and silenced cells, Dr. Tan’s lab found reduced respiration when autophagy is disrupted, possibly due to accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria in these mutant cells. The H35 Hypoxystation  Dr. Tan’s lab used for these studies creates a closed environment with controlled temperature, humidity, CO2 and oxygen, in which cells are cultured and manipulated over the course of days and weeks without the need to transfer into ambient conditions. The combination of an Hypoxystation and an i2 Instrument Workstation is designed to accommodate the specific requirements of the Seahorse XFe Analyzer for the duration of the metabolism assays investigating oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification.

http://www.dwscientific.co.uk/blog/examining-role-autophagy-hypoxic-tumours/

Catalyst Monitoring System for Whitley Workstations

This new facility is a very efficient and effective way of alerting users to both the condition of the catalyst and the anaerobic atmosphere in a Whitley Workstation. This patented application is an ingenious software based system, which requires only a minimal amount of unobtrusive hardware.

The Catalyst Monitoring System is a factory-fitted option for Whitley Anaerobic Workstations. It is set to conduct the test overnight so that when you arrive at the lab in the morning, a pop-up box on the touchscreen informs you of the status of the catalyst. ‘Green’ means all is fine and there is plenty of life left in the catalyst; ‘amber’ means the catalyst performance is reduced; and ‘red’ means that the catalyst should be changed to maintain good anaerobic conditions.

The system also allows for the test to be run manually if required. This test is very valuable because it confirms that the catalyst is working and that hydrogen is present in the atmosphere, both of which are essential to maintain strict anaerobic conditions.

This option can be used either on its own or in conjunction with the Whitley Anaerobic Conditions Monitor, which provides continuous monitoring of the level of oxygen present in your workstation.

http://www.dwscientific.co.uk/blog/new-option-catalyst-monitoring-system/

Rapid, manual counting of colonies

The new aCOLade 2 manual colony counter is an ideal choice for budget-conscious microbiology laboratories.

It consists of an illuminated receiver plate and a large LED display. The pressure of marking a colony with a felt-tip pen registers a cumulative count on the digital display with confirmation by audible tone (can be turned on or off). The pressure required to register a count can be adjusted to suit each user.

Sub-stage illumination by low energy bright LEDs allows glare-free optimum viewing. A switchable black background is provided to enhance viewing of translucent and difficult to see colonies. Supplied with two graticules and dish centering adapters to facilitate use with 50mm - 90mm dishes. A choice of magnifiers are available as optional accessories.

Whitley H35 Hypoxystation used in heart regeneration project

This article is a testimonial from Dr Vaibhao Janbandhu, a postdoctoral research scientist at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (VCCR) in Sydney. Dr Janbandhu explains how his lab’s work has benefited from the use of a Whitley H35 Hypoxystation. Vaibhao uses the Hypoxystation to isolate, culture and characterise adult cardiac stem cells (CSCs).
http://www.dwscientific.co.uk/blog/vaibhao-janbandhu-testimonial/

Featured product : NanoEnTek Arthur

The Arthur Image Based Cell Analyzer is a 3-channel desktop image analyzer that allows users to perform assays for cells in suspension, including GFP and RFP expression, apoptosis, cell viability, cell cycle, and cell counting assays using state-of-the-art optics. 

The Arthur is compatible with a wide variety of eukaryotic cells.  Depending on the complexity of the assay and number of fields captured, it takes 10 seconds to 2 minutes for Arthur to count a typical assay with only 25uL of sample volume.

Advantages

Advanced Accuracy

  • Get comprehensive and sufficiently accurate assay results.
  • Obtain cell images and reliable counting results with graphic data
  • check histograms and select cell size gating

Versatility (Flexibility)

  • Compatible with a wide variety of eukaryotic cells
  • Performs various assays for cells in suspension
    (GFP/RFP expression, apoptosis, cell viability, cell cycle, and cell counting) 

High-speed cell counting & analysis

  • Performs 3-channel population analysis in 1 minute
  • Counts for a typical assay with only 25 μL of sample volume

Ease of Use

  • Rapid 3-channel population analysis in 1 minute
  • No system maintenance required
  • User friendly interface with LCD touch screen

Assays and applications

NanoEnTek Arthur features two fluorescent channels (green & red) as well as bright.
User is able to perform a broad range of assays:

  • Cell counting & viability
  • GFP and RFP expression
  • Annexin V apoptosis analysis
  • cell cycle analysis

 Read more about NanoEntek Arthur
 For more information about NanoEnTek Arthur in New Zealand contact Anna

AS1 and Don Whitley to exhibit at CHRO Conference

AS1 will be jointly exhibiting with Don Whitley Scientific at the 18th international workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and related organisms - CHRO 2015 and 2015 NZMS Conference.

CHRO 2015 will be held in the beautiful spa town of Rotorua in New Zealand from 1-5 November 2015. Rotorua offers a stunning natural environment for the conference and activities for all to enjoy, as well as state-of-the-art conference facilities and accommodation to suit every budget.

We will be showcasing a Don Whitley A35 anaerobic cabinet and releasing the new M35 microaerophilic cabinet.

We will have Biolog consumables and other products in our range showcased as well.

Would you like more information about the event or where we will be located? Please contact Anna.

Protos 3

Protos 3 is a revolutionary automated colony counter and chromogenic identification system. Using its sensitive CCD camera and unique lighting coupled with powerful analysis software, Protos 3 counts colonies in seconds and automatically identifies microbial species by their colour on chromogenic plates. This provides accurate, objective and fully traceable results.

The compact Protos 3 attaches via USB to a computer, where microbiologists can input their plate identification and with the one-click colony counting and chromogenic ID software can rapidly analyse a wide range of plate types. The count results can be automatically transferred to Excel where the count, plate ID and images can be saved. This GLP compliant process, with its full audit trail eliminates transcription errors to provide accurate, objective data, which can be reviewed at any time and used to produce professional reports.

Protos 3 can be used with both small and large plates (up to 150mm) to read a range of format types including spiral, pour, spread and dilution series plates. The system’s camera is so sensitive it can routinely detect colonies as small as 43 microns and the unique LED lighting system and Protos 3 software allows analysis of an infinite number of colonies on one plate in seconds, making this an ideal system for use in busy food and environmental microbiology laboratories.

For more information about why to buy, applications and specifications visit the Synbiosis website.

Would you like more information about Protos 3 in New Zealand?  Contact Anna >>

AS1 Attends NZMS/NZSBMB Conference

AS1 attended the annual conference of the New Zealand Microbiological Society Inc and the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in November.

The focus of this years conference was the challenge of being a scientist in the post-genomic era. The conference presentations discussed the challenge of functional genomics, New Zealand’s biological heritage and science for technological innovation.

AS1 display visitors were particularly interested in Biolog, DWS Anaerobic and Hypoxia cabinets, and Presens oxygen monitoring systems

It was an excellent meeting with a lot of interesting presentations and posters.

For more information about the event or a product, please Contact Anna.

Whitley H35: Used in the Fight against Pancreatic Cancer

Widely regarded as the best cancer hospital in the USA, The MD Anderson Cancer Centre at the University of Texas currently uses a Whitley H35 Hypoxystation to contribute to their work focused on pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Rafal Zielinski had this to say about their workstation:

“The hypoxia station we have purchased is being used for studies on STAT and HIF oncogenic transcription factors in tumours with major focus on pancreatic cancer. It is well-established that these tumours are highly hypoxic therefore experiments performed in oxygen-limited conditions better recapitulates the natural environment of the cancer, allows better understanding of the physiologic role of STATs and HIFs and enables more accurate evaluation of experimental therapeutic strategies. We also use chronic hypoxia to study metabolism of the cancer cells and to design optimal therapeutic approaches using new inhibitors of glycolysis.”

Article shared from www.dwscientific.co.uk

For more information about Whitley H35 Hypoxystations in New Zealand, contact Anna