CCR-Frederick Flow Cytometry Core

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

To date in FY2021, the Core has performed 228 billable services, including 407 individual samples sorted and 1018 hours billed. The core's cytometers were used for 1369 sessions totaling more than 3100 hours. The Core recorded 91 users from numerous CCR programs including the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Chemical Biology Laboratory, RNA Biology Laboratory, Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Structural Biology, Laboratory of Cell & Developmental Signaling, Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Laboratory of Protein Dynamics & Signaling, and the Office of the Director. The core also provided services for the Collaborative Clinical Research Branch (NIAID), the Laboratory of Epigenome Biology (NHLBI) and the Cancer Diagnosis Program (DCTD). Significant Achievements: Response to COVID-19: Following the NIH Return to the Workplace guidance, NCI flow cytometry core leaders established policies for using the labs while minimizing risk to users and staff. By distributing core instruments in four rooms to encourage physical distancing, core lab occupancy was 75% of maximum capacity (compared to 77% for the prior pre-pandemic period). Enhancement of Training Program: While in-person meetings were suspended, the flow cytometry educational lectures developed with other NCI Flow Cores were recorded as on-demand webinars and made available to new trainees. The core organized vendor webinars for high throughput flow applications, spectral cytometry, and software training. In FY2021 to date, 36 new users were trained and granted access to core instruments. Keeping Pace with Evolving Cytometry: After procuring and installing two high-parameter cytometers in 2020, the advanced capabilities were highlighted in two posters presented at the June meeting of the cytometry professional society, CYTO2021. The Cytek Aurora is a spectral cytometer with fluorescence detection from ultraviolet to infrared; by combining more than 20 fluorescent probes, high content data can be derived from limited samples. The BD Symphony S6 sorter is capable of high-speed separation of up to six finely defined immune cell subsets simultaneously, or depositing single cells into 96 or 384-well plates for cloning or deep-sequencing. To exploit the analytical power of the new instruments, broadly applicable metabolomics panels are in parallel development using the Aurora and S6. Finally, the NCI Cytometry leadership group recognized a need for dedicated bioinformatics support specifically for flow cytometry data, and developed a position description to recruit a specialized analyst to develop software tools and workflows, provide training, and consult on flow analyses. Special Recognition: The core submitted a poster titled Estimating Throughput and Recovery from Flow Cytometry Cell Sorting to the April 2021 USAMRDC Spring Research Festival, and was awarded an Outstanding Poster Award in the Scientific Core Services category. The core was acknowledged for support (technical contribution) of these publications: (1) Ni K, Ren J, Xu X, He Y, Finney R, Braun SMG, Hathaway NA, Crabtree GR, Muegge K. LSH mediates gene repression through macroH2A deposition. Nat Commun. 2020 Nov 6;11(1):5647. PMID: 33159050; (2) Qu P, Wuest T, Min Y, Alevizos I, Young HA, Lin PC. Natural Killer Cell Transcript 4 promotes the development of Sjogren's syndrome via activation of Rap1 on B cells. J Autoimmun. 2021 Jan;116:102559. PMID: 33087256