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

Don Whitley Hypoxystation Used in Lung Cancer Research

An article from the latest Don Whitley Newsletter

Originally posted here on June 25 by Deborah Robinson

Lung cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the world with an approximate figure of 1.6 million new cases diagnosed in 2008, 80% of which are comprised of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Poor prognostic markers and delay in diagnosis account for a large segment of lung cancer cases to be past successful cure. Survival rates for this form of the disease are very low, with a 5-year survival rate of <9% (2010) of cases and <5.3% over 10-years (CRUK, public data). Lipid metabolism has been correlated to malignant progression and poor clinical outcome in NSCLC and has been suggested as a hallmark of cancer proliferation and a discriminating factor in treatment planning.

Dr Rosy Favicchio

Dr Rosy Favicchio

Dr Rosy Favicchio, at Imperial College London’s Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, is researching the impact of lipid metabolism in cancer growth and is part of a team developing new diagnostic imaging technology that will help identify cancers based on their metabolic profile.

“We are directing precision medicine strategies by developing new diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers for patient stratification and early assessment to therapeutic response. If we are to use lipid metabolism as a reporter system for tumour metabolism and synthesize drugs that target the pathways regulating this particular aspect of tumour physiology, we need to generate data that accurately reproduce the tumour microenvironment. The ability to vary the hypoxic load in our model is fundamental for understanding the relationship driving lipid metabolic reprogramming. Our experiments using the Don Whitley Hypoxystation are designed to further our understanding of the role played by lipid metabolism under hypoxic conditions and evaluate its use as an effective biomarker and druggable driver of NSCLC malignant growth”.

For more information about the Don Whitley Hypoxystations click here: Don Whitley

To receive direct assistance about Don Whitley Hypoxystations in New Zealand Contact Anna