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Lab 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.

We welcome consultation, especially prior to project development. Please contact us so that we can assist with planning and scheduling your research.

To request a consultation and to access services, please complete the online Service Request form 

CFAR Lab Core Service Request Form

Following is a list of current services. If you need an assay that you do not see below, please contact us to discuss your needs:

For questions, please contact Margie Roach (305-243-4822) or mroach@miami.edu

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.

Core D can facilitate microbiome sequencing through a Core agreement with the University of Minnesota. Please contact Margie Roach (305-243-4822) for details.