Our laboratory facilities also includes workspace for the cultivation of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms, handling of anaerobic incubations, as well as molecular ecological work aimed at detecting and quantifying phylogenetic marker genes or functional genes in environmental samples using PCR approaches.

Low-resolution fingerprinting (DGGE), conventional and next generation sequencing techniques are used to determine microbial community structures in environmental samples or experimental systems. Moreover, we fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH and CARD-FISH) techniques and epifluorescence microscopy to detect and quantify individual cells of specific groups of microorganism in environmental samples.

Responsible: Dr. Jakob Zopfi

Equipment:

• Aura Mini sterile bench
• Anaerobic glove box
• Autoclave
• Incubators and bioreactor
• Precellys 24 cell sample homogenisator for extraction of nucleic acids
• Quit 2.0 fluorometer (Invitrogen) for quantification of nuecleic acids and proteins
• Gradient thermocycler (Bioer Genetouch)
• Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis System (Ingeny)
• G-Box gel documentation system (Syngene)
• Leica DM2500 epifluorescence microscope with digital camera
• Water bath and hybridization oven
• Cooled (micro-)centrifuges (Sigma 3-18K;  PrismR C2500R)
• -80°C Ultra Low temperature freezer (Sanyo MDF-C8V)

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