The University of Ottawa is pleased to invite qualified proponents to submit a proposal for a High Resolution High Throughput Cell Imager System.
Scope of Project:
The University of Ottawa solicits a High Resolution High Throughput Cell Imager System for Host-pathogen Interaction Research. The high throughput cell imager and information processing system will enable efficient gathering of high quality data for the study of pathogen-infected host cell phenotypes.
General Description:
The high content cell imager and information processing system will primarily be used for host-pathogen interaction studies of bacterial pathogen-infected cell lines, primary cells and tissues. The system should be able to efficiently detect pathogen-infected cells within the sample, generate multi-channel images (up to 5 fluorescence channels), and simultaneously perform automated analysis of the data sets. The imaging platform, which includes the cell imager and acquisition and analysis software, should be user friendly, sufficient to be used by trainees, and be easily adaptable to diverse user assays.
The high content cell imager and information processing system should be a spinning disk confocal system, and offer fluorescence imaging in both wide field, confocal, in addition to brightfield. The system must be compatible with both live and fixed analysis and have the capacity for imaging in diverse experimental formats (8-well chamber slides, 6- , 12- and 24-well plates, as well as 96-, 384- and 1536-well microplates). The system should also offer image stabilization tools, and automatic tiling capabilities.
Specifications listed in Appendix A – Technical Specifications Compliance Form of this RFP are the mandatory minimum requirements for the High Resolution High Throughput Cell Imager System.
Mandatory Minimum Requirements for the High Resolution High Throughput Cell Imager System:
1.0 - Cell Imager Body & Capabilities
1.1 - Cell Imager: must be a spinning disk high-content confocal cell imaging system
1.2 - Imaging Modes: must offer fluorescence imaging in both wide field and confocal, as well as brightfield
1.3 - Stage: must have a fully motorized stage to support imaging in x,y,z planes
1.4 - Experimental Format: must have adapters for the imaging of microscope slides and plates, and must have software preset imaging settings for imaging of 8-well chamber slides, 6- , 12- and 24-well plates, as well as 96-, 384- and 1536-well microplates.
1.5 - Objectives: must hold at least 3 objectives, and be outfitted with at least one high magnification objective of ³40X.
1.6 - Fluorescence: must use a minimum of 7 LEDs for DAPI, CFP, GFP, CY3, mCherry, CY5 and CY7 with appropriate filters for all LEDs.
1.7 - FRET capability: system must be compatible with all of the following FRET pairs: EGFP-mCherry, mTagBFP-GFP, and ECFP-EYFP.
1.8 - Must be outfitted with image stabilization tools compatible with both live and fixed imaging protocols.
1.9 - Kinetics Imaging: kinetic analysis mode must support multi-point acquisition within each well/chamber of interest.
1.10 - Autofocus: system must offer laser-based and software-based autofocus, and due to the fragile nature of pathogen-infected cells, laser-based autofocus must not cause cytotoxic damage to host cells.
1.11 - To assist with efficiently identifying low abundance phenotypes, the system must offer sample scanning at low magnification for phenotype identification, and couple with acquisition and analysis at a higher magnification.
1.12 - The proposed equipment and accessories must be benchtop compatible. The proposed equipment must be installed within the available benchtop space of 29.5” x 72”
2.0 - Digital Components & Software
2.1 - Camera: must be outfitted with a high resolution sCMOS camera with a quantum efficiency of at least 90%.
2.2 - Computer: platform must include a computer capable of running the associated software and producing all associated analyses and/or reports.
2.3 - Software: must be capable of complete control of cell imaging system, including illumination and camera, and must contain a full imaging and analysis suite.
2.4 - Acquisition software must store the metadata with all corresponding images acquired.
2.5 - Acquisition software must be capable of performing automatic tiling through control of the motorized stage and be capable of imaging and tiling an entire well or chamber of sample.
2.6 - Analysis: to allow for efficient analysis of host-pathogen assays with low abundance phenotypes, software must offer real-time analysis, supporting simultaneous image acquisition, image processing, data handling and data review.
2.7 - Analysis software must offer diverse preset imaging settings to assist with user friendliness, and include at least 30 cell biological applications for quantification of diverse phenotypes
2.8 - The imaging platform package must include a second full version of the image acquisition & analysis software compatible with use on a separate workstation.
2.9 - The acquisition software must generate images that are compatible with the software ImageJ.
3.0 - Installation and Training
3.1 - Complete installation must be included, including calibration of all objectives.
3.2 - Training: A minimum of 3 on-site training sessions must be provided with purchase. At least two of these training sessions should be for the instrument manager and at least one should be for first expected users (group session).
4.0 - Warranty, Service, and Maintenance
4.1 - Must include a minimum of two (2) years manufacturer’s warranty. Warranty must include all hardware and software components and must include parts (including illumination), software updates, labor, preventative maintenance, and travel.
4.2 - Support: Phone/online/virtual/email-based support is required during working hours (8AM-5PM, eastern time), with an acknowledgement of the support request within 4h. Online technical support must be provided within 48h after the service request is received, and when applicable, on-site support must be within a week (maximum 7 days) after service request is received.
5.0 - Other
5.1 - All electrical components must have CSA (Canadian Standards Association) certification, or accepted equivalent as per Electrical Safety Authority Recognized Certification Mark at the following link: https://esasafe.com/electrical-products/recognized-certification-marks/. Otherwise, all electrical components must be able to undergo the appliable electrical inspection, and/or, certification, without voiding the system warranty.
