Responsible: Ana Palmeira de Oliveira; Joana Rolo; Susana Ferreira
CICS-UBI has two Microbiology laboratories equipped for a wide range of microbial culture procedures, from the biotechnological production processes to research involving biological pathogens of level 1 and 2 security. The laboratories have orbital incubators and a Bioreactor Bioflo3000 (New Brunswick) connected to an Off-Gas CO2/O2 Analyzer used to optimize the operating conditions for bacterial cell growth and to maximize yields of therapeutic proteins and nucleic acids in both fermentation and cell culture, through model development. Bench-top bioreactors Infors-HT, model Multifors are also available for multiple parallel cultivation of bacteria and fungi for key applications such as media and process development, strain selection and scale-down studies. The laboratory is also equipped with an atmosphere generator Anoxomat Mark II to create microaerophilic and anaerobic atmospheres. Current microbiology materials and equipment, such as a laminar flow cabinet (Bio-Air) and regular and CO2 incubators are also used for general microbiological analysis, as isolation, growth and detection of bacterial and fungal pathogens. The facilities also provide conditions for biological evaluation of antimicrobial compounds, as well as, for the assessment of resistance and pathogenicity phenotypes (for example using co-cultures with human cell lines).
