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Union Biometrica, Inc. to exhibit at the 10th European Zebrafish Meeting in Budapest, Hungary
We invite you to learn more about our technologies by viewing the following poster presentations:
High-Throughput Craniofacial Development Phenotyping in Zebrafish using VAST BioImager
Zebrafish is an emerging vertebrate model organism to study human diseases and toxicology. A variety of genetic tools in zebrafish allow in vivo modeling of human genetic diseases and regeneration. Zebrafish larvae also have small size and optical clarity which allows easy microscopic evaluation of physiological changes and morphological phenotypes. Conventional imaging approaches involve manual orientation of each larva and are difficult to automate for genetic and drug screens. Here we report how VAST BioImager was used to automate zebrafish larvae positioning, orientation and image collection for a large numbers of zebrafish larvae. Mutations in mapre2 gene lead to defects in normal craniofacial development in zebrafish larvae. Mutations in human MAPRE2 are linked to circumferential skin creases Kunze type (“Michelin tire baby”). MAPRE2 encodes a member of tubulin binding family and is thought to control microtubule dynamics and reorganization.
Developing Screening Assays in Zebrafish
Zebrafish is an emerging vertebrate model organism to study human diseases and toxicology. A variety of genetic tools in zebrafish allow in vivo modeling of human genetic diseases and regeneration. Inconsistent orientation of zebrafish can obscure morphological changes and affect image analysis. Existing HTS imaging solutions (e.g. microplate imagers) struggle generating datasets with consistent positioning of images. The VAST (Vertebrate Automated Screening Technology) BioImagerTM allows automated positioning and imaging of zebrafish larva. Typical VAST BioImager setup may include a microscope for high-resolution fluorescence image capture. The system loads, positions & rotates a larva to a user selected orientation in the field of view of the camera. Here we report examples how VAST BioImager was used to automate zebrafish larvae positioning, orientation and image collection.
The VAST BioImager system, automates the tedious step of positioning 2-7 dpf zebrafish larvae for imaging. The system gently loads each larva into a capillary, positions it laterally, and then rotates it in the field of view of the on-board camera for organ level imaging. Additionally the VAST can be mounted on a high resolution upright microscope for high content bright field or fluorescent imaging at the cellular level. For more detail and to see a video on VAST go to: http://www.unionbio.com/vast/
The optional Large Particle Sampler (LP Sampler™) module can be added to the system to gently aspirate larvae from multi-well plates and deliver them one at a time to VAST for imaging. This auto-sampler can handle a variety of standard or deep well plates including 24, 48 and 96-well configurations.
The expanded LP Sampler with Dispenser™ allows you to deposit each larvae into the corresponding well of a daughter plate after imaging is complete. In this way, for example as part of a drug screen, you can remove a larva from one well, image it and return it to the corresponding well of a daughter plate to continue incubation.
More information regarding the event can be found at: http://zebrafish2017.org/
Not attending the meeting? Email our technical team at sales@unionbio.com for a personalized discussion or to arrange a demonstration in your laboratory.
About Union Biometrica, Inc.
In addition to the VAST BioImager system, Union Biometrica offers Large Particle Flow Cytometers for high throughput research of model organisms (early stages of zebrafish, Medaka, C.elegans, Drosophila embryos and larvae, sea urchin embryos, Xenopus eggs and embryos, Daphnia, various marine larvae and zooplankton), plus bead based assays, stem cells and cell clusters (iPS cells and embryoid bodies as well as other types of large cells / cell clusters). The COPAS FP™ and BioSorter Large Particle Flow Cytometers are designed for objects that are too large / too fragile for traditional cytometers and offer an alternative to manual sorting. These systems analyze and sort objects based on size and fluorescent parameters. Automating this process offers increased speed, sensitivity, quantification, and repeatability of experiments.
Publications related to the VAST BioImager can be viewed at:
? VAST - D. rerio (zebrafish) - http://www.unionbio.com/publications/publication.aspx?id=56
Peer reviewed journal papers referencing the sorting of zebrafish using our COPAS and BioSorter instruments can be viewed using the link below.
? Flow Cytometry- D. rerio (zebrafish) - http://www.unionbio.com/publications/publication.aspx?id=32