Supply of Vet Equipment to Aberystwyth University

Description

Aberystwyth University is in the process of establishing state of the art veterinary research laboratories that will contribute to the fight against bovine tuberculosis (BTB). These laboratories will assist Welsh Government in their aim to eradicate BTB; BTB is the most pressing animal health issue for Wales today. By providing infrastructure and the expertise, these laboratories will contribute to the strategic preparedness of Wales to fight future disease incursion. These laboratories form part of the investment in capacity on BTB research and follow on from the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for BTB Research in Wales, Vet-Hub 1, the Wales Veterinary Centre, KESS Scholarships and the School of Veterinary Sciences at Aberystwyth University. Capitalization on these investments requires equipping sate of the art laboratories that will enable the study of the bovine immune response to mycobacteria; these studies will provide the basis from which novel tools for the tackling of BTB will emerge. The studies to be undertaken in these laboratories will aim to gain a greater understanding of the bovine immune response to mycobacteria at the molecular, cellular, tissue and farm levels. Accordingly, the equipment required for these laboratories will fulfil the characteristics briefly described in each tender lot and it is divided into small scale equipment and large scale equipment. Lot 1: Lot 1 -20oC freezers and fridges The Ser Cymru labs at Aberystwyth University need to have the capability to reliably store samples and reagents, including RNA, DNA, whole blood, blood fractions, assay plates, antigens and reagents. Lot 2: Lot 2: -80oC freezers and associated racking. The Ser Cymru labs need to have the capability to reliably store samples and reagents, including RNA, DNA, whole blood, blood fractions, assay plates, antigens and reagents etc at -80oC. Lot 3: Lot 3: Centrifuges The Ser Cymru labs at Aberystwyth University need to have the capability to centrifuge a wide variety of samples in a wide variety of containers at a variety of speeds and temperatures, including samples of RNA, DNA, whole blood, blood fractions, assay plates etc. This requires centrifuges to operate in a temperature range from 0oC to 30oC: Centrifuges. 4 x Bench top Refrigerated Macrofuges, 3 x Bench top refrigerated centrifuges, 1 x Bench top non-refrigerated centrifuge Lot 4: Lot 4: CO2 incubators The Ser Cymru labs at Aberystwyth University need to have the capability to incubate samples and reactions at variable temperatures and conditions. The incubators will be required to operate at a temperature range from 20oC to 60oC and have a CO2 supply of 5% Lot 5: Lot 5: Floor Standing Shaking Incubator, Floor Standing Non-Shaking Incubator The Ser Cymru labs at Aberystwyth University need to have the capability to incubate samples and reactions at variable temperatures and conditions. This will involve the use of a variety of containers ie plates, tubes and bottles. The incubators will be required to operate at a temperature range from 20oC to 60oC. Lot 6: Lot 6: Microscopes The Ser Cymru labs at Aberystwyth University need to have the capability to count cells and to observe cells for culture. The below range of microscopes will provide the capabilities required. 2 x Inverted microscopes, 2 x upright light (Binocular) microscopes, 1 x Stereo microscope Lot 7: Lot 7: Pipettes The Ser Cymru labs at Aberystwyth University need to have the capability to pipette a wide variety of samples across a wide variety of volumes. Protocols will call for the need to use single channel, 8 and 12 channel pipettes and to be used for a variety of samples, including samples of RNA, DNA, whole blood, blood fractions and using a variety of containers ranging from 50ml Falcon tubes to 96 and 384 well assay plates. Pipettes, stands and tips. 3 x sets of 5 adjustable pipettes + stand + tips, 3 x sets of 4 8 channel pipettes + stand + tips, 3 x sets of 4 12 channel pipettes + stands + tips Lot 8: Lot 8: Water baths, Sonication Bath and Balances The Ser Cymru labs at Aberystwyth University need to have the capability to accurately weigh samples and reagents for use in routine methods and protocols. The labs also require water baths for short term warming and for longer term incubation. A sonication bath is also required for cell disruption. Balance. 2 x Analytical Balances, 2 x Water baths, 1 x Sonication bath Lot 9: Lot 9: Class II Safety Cabinets The Ser Cymru Team at Aberystwyth University are in the process of setting up a Class II laboratory and a Tissue Culture laboratory and therefore invite bids for the provision of 4 Class II Cabinets for the culture of cells. Lot 10: Lot 10: Cell Sorter The University of Aberystwyth is in the process of setting up world-class laboratories for the study of host-pathogen interactions in species of veterinary interest. Study of host-pathogen interactions requires the elucidation of the response of the host to the pathogen, which can be evaluated evaluating the response of predefined cell populations against a pathogen. We are seeking to source a cell sorter that allows the sorting of peripheral blood cells and those found in tissues. Lot 11: Lot 11: Cytometer The University of Aberystwyth is in the processing of setting up world-class laboratories for the study of host-pathogen interactions in species of veterinary interest. Study of host-pathogen interactions requires the elucidation of the host cells participating in the response to the host. Cell cytometry is one of the tools used to determine which cells are responding to different pathogens under different conditions. To that aim, the University is inviting tenders for the provision of a high quality and high specification cell cytometer in order to analyse particularly rare populations that may play an important role in the host’s response to different pathogens and/or vaccines. Lot 12: Lot 12: Microscope The University of Aberystwyth is in the process of setting up world-class laboratories for the study of host-pathogen interactions in species of veterinary interest. Study of host-pathogen interactions requires the elucidation of the components engaged at the site of infection. This would involve evaluation of the cells at the site of infection as well as the pathogen and the products secreted by both the host and the pathogen. Therefore, we are seeking to acquire a high end microscope which will permit the evaluation of histological slides that have been stained with H&E (bright field) or that have been fluorescently labelled (fluorescence field) for evaluation of the presence of specific molecular components, either through the use of antibodies or nucleic acid probes. Lot 13: Lot 13: Metabolomics Platform Aberystwyth University are currently developing world-class, state-of-the-art laboratory spaces to investigate host-pathogen interactions, particularly in response to pathogens of veterinary and zoonotic interest. Increasingly, the study of host-pathogen interactions also examines the role of cellular metabolism (of host or pathogen) in driving and shaping ongoing immune responses. As such, Aberystwyth University is inviting tenders to procure a small footprint platform with the ability to measure cellular metabolism such as mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis. Lot 14: Lot 14: Multiplex Platform The University of Aberystwyth is in the process of setting up world-class laboratories for the study of host-pathogen interactions in species of veterinary interest. Study of host-pathogen interactions requires the elucidation of the components released by the host’s cells and the pathogen following interactions with each other. Therefore, evaluation of the secretion of molecular messengers by host or pathogen cells is one of the tools we will use to determine the nature of the response of the host to different pathogens under different conditions. Accordingly, the University is seeking to source a multiplexing instrument capable of analysing up to a 100 different molecules in a single sample in a high through put manner with automated calibration and validation capabilities. Lot 15: Lot 15: RT-PCR The University of Aberystwyth is in the process of setting up world-class laboratories for the study of host-pathogen interactions in species of veterinary interest. Study of host-pathogen interactions requires the elucidation of the response of the host to the pathogen, which can be evaluated in terms of transcription of specific genes; similarly, the response of the pathogen to the host could be assessed by evaluation of the transcription of selected genes. Accordingly, the University is seeking to acquire a Real-time PCR system. Lot 16: Lot 16: Single Cell Analysis System The University of Aberystwyth is in the process of setting up world-class laboratories for the study of host-pathogen interactions in species of veterinary interest. Study of host-pathogen interactions requires the elucidation of the response of the host to the pathogens. Once the host mounts an immune response to the pathogen, it is not expected that all the cells within a population will contribute to the same extent to the response. Therefore, there is a need to study the immune response of the host’s individual cells, within a population, to the pathogen at the transcription level. Therefore, the University is seeking to source a platform that will permit the isolation of single cells within a predefined cell population. The transcriptome of individual cells from a pre-defined population will then be evaluated using pre-defined gene probes.