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Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform (AMP2)

This is a corner view of the Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform. It is composed of a set of seven anaerobic chambers. Inside the chambers are interconnected lab devices. Each chamber has robotic arms to move samples between devices along a connected track. All seven chambers are interconnected by this track, so samples can be moved between all 18 interconnected lab devices.
This is a close-up view of an anaerobic chamber in the Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform. Inside the chamber are interconnected lab devices with robotic arms to move samples between lab devices along a connected track.
This is a close-up view of an anaerobic chamber in the Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform. Inside the chamber are interconnected lab devices with robotic arms to move samples between lab devices along a connected track.
This is a close-up view of a robotic arm that delivers samples to lab devices within the Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform.

The Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform (AMP2) is designed to experimentally perturb and assay biological systems in an anaerobic environment. EMSL’s vision for the system is an end-to-end automated platform that enables researchers to investigate a wide variety of conditions using analytical methods. AMP2 will improve the reproducibility, scalability, and shareability of life science research by generating publicly available datasets. These datasets will support the development of predictive models that can bridge the gap between genotype and phenotype in microbiology. 

Resources 

AMP2 will enable researchers to investigate different microbes in variable conditions using 18 instruments with minimal need for operator intervention. Instrumentation includes devices necessary to perform complete design–build–test–learn cycles for many microbial phenotyping experiments. 

Research application 

The platform will support EMSL user microbiology by generating high quality and high throughput phenotypic data. AMP2 will be used to perform multiple portions of a microbial experiment in a controlled anaerobic environment, including the following: 

  • cell transformation including electroporation 
  • cell culturing/cultivating including the incubation of up to 14 deep well plates  
  • sample preparation and liquid handling including bulk dispensing, design-of-experiments-compatible dispensing, cherry-/hit-picking, and centrifugation 
  • functional assaying via integrated analytical instrumentation including flow cytometry, fluorescence, luminescence, absorbance, and liquid chromatography. 

AMP2’s state-of-the-art features 

  • enable the generation of AI/machine learning (ML)-ready data in publicly available databases hosted on EMSL’s Science Central™ 
  • schedule and handle workflows, real-time sample monitoring and tracking, integrating data acquisition and export to an external laboratory information management system, and data storage systems 
  • include a modular and customizable system with the ability to expand capabilities and throughput as the state-of-the-art processes and instruments evolve. 

Contacts