News
22.11.2023New Cellular Immunoassay Equipment
The Cytometry laboratory at the Scientific and Technological Centers of the University of Barcelona (CCiTUB) has acquired a new ELISpot plate reader for the quantification of proteins secreted at the cellular level.
This instrument, Astor 2 manufactured by Mabtech, operates on 96-well plates. It features a fixed-focus optics system that enables direct and rapid plate reading, along with a highly efficient algorithm for the recognition and measurement of "spots" generated by the immunodetection of molecules secreted by each cell.
The Astor 2 equipment allows for the sensitive quantification of immunoglobulins or cytokines such as INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, and other proteins secreted by cultured cells. Particularly valuable in studies involving cells with low frequency that contribute to the immune response, it finds applications in fields such as the assessment of vaccine-induced immunity or cancer immunotherapy.
The cellular-level ELISpot immunoassay technique complements the existing cytometers in the laboratory, providing information at the single-cell level. Additionally, it complements the quantification of biomarkers offered by the Luminex Magpix system.
Thanks to the agreement signed between the University of Barcelona and Labclinics, the Astor 2 equipment is operational in the cytometry laboratory at the CCiTUB Diagonal Campus for one year.