Microbial Technology Group Laboratory

The laboratory concentrates on the study and engineering on non-model microbes from KSA marine and terrestrial habitats. It is part of the experimental component of the CBRC CCF Microbial Cell Factories programme. The laboratory provides a complete experimental pipeline from isolation and physiological characterization of novel photosynthetic and heterotrophic microbes through genome sequencing and metabolomic profiling to molecular and synthetic biological engineering of selected strains for biotechnological application(s). In addition, the laboratory hosts major industrial collaborative programs.

Facilities

Brand: Advantec Vacuum Filter Holder and Masterflex I/P Easy-Load pump head,
Model: KSF47 and 77601-10
Cell filtration system The laboratory possesses a 3 port and a 6 port manifold system for microbiological and metagenomic isolation experiments.
Brand: Olympus,
Model: SZX16
Olympus SZX16 dissecting stereo microscope The Olympus SZX16 dissecting stereo microscope provides visible light imaging of biological samples. Magnification is available from 3.5x to 115x. Output micrographs are handled by proprietary image capture and analysis software.
Brand: Olympus,
Model: CX41
microscope The Olympus CX41 phase contrast stereo microscope provides fluorescent and visible light imaging of biological samples. Magnification is available from 100x to 1000x. Output micrographs are handled by proprietary image capture and analysis software.
Brand: Thermo Scientific Heratherm,
Model: IGS180
Heratherm Air Incubator The Heratherm air incubator provides basic heterotrophic microbiological culture capacity. Temperature range of the incubator is 5 to 75 degrees C. It has a temperature alarm, a digital timer, a glass door, and two storage shelves. The glass door is for viewing contents without impacting temperature, and two shelves for storage within its 6.8 cubic foot chamber volume.
Brand: Panasonic,
Model: MLS-3781L
Laboratory Autoclave The Panasonic Laboratory autoclave is a KAUST standard. It will carry out standard autoclave functions with a capacity of 75 litres.
Brand: Gel Doc EZ Imager,

BioRad Gel Imaging System This imaging system can visualize biological molecules and metabolites under UV/White/Blue illumination. It is compatible with the BioRad gel electrophoresis system. Images are processed and captured using proprietary computer software.
Brand: Lab Companion,
Model: SI-600
Bench-top Incubator Shaker The laboratory has three “Emerald” shaking incubator systems capable of phototrophic microbial culture with a capacity ranging from 16 x 250ml flasks to 9 x 1000 ml flasks. Temperature and platform rotation rate is controlled via a system panel.
Brand: Labconco Horizontal,
Model: Labconco 38730xx/39703xx series
BL1 Biological Hood The laboratory has three biological hood systems compatible with BL1 applications.
Brand: Infors HT,
Model: Multitron Standard
Multitron Standard The Multitron is a KAUST standard incubator system. The lab possesses 9 incubator chambers, each equipped for phototrophic microbial culture. Temperature 10°C-50°C, light 0 – 500 µmol photons m-2s-1 and platform rotation rates are controlled independently for each chamber. These are used for controlled culture experiments ranging in scale from 50 ml to 5 L. The systems do not have CO2 supply.
Brand: Agilent Technologies,
Model: 1260 Infinity Series
LC System The Agilent 1260 LC system is a KAUST standard chromatography unit compatible with numerous organic separation columns and applications. In our laboratory, it is set up to perform small scale LC analyses of metabolic products. The system is computer controlled via proprietary data handling and analysis software.