Viral / Molecular Core Virology Services
Core Services Main Page | Virology | Molecular | Sequencing | SGA Services | BSL-3 Facility | Other
- HIV-1 viral isolate repository
- Virus isolation from clinical samples
- Virus phenotyping (SI / NSI and R5 / R5X4 / X4 analysis)
- HIV-1 p24 and SIV/HIV-2 p27 Gag antigen ELISA assay
- Amplification and QA of virus stocks
- Mycoplasma testing of virus stocks
- Inactivated HIV-1 Virions
- Plate Fluorimetry, Luminometry and Continuous Absorbance Spectophotometer
- Custom Viral Services & Consultation in other viral services
Core Service Contact:
Farida Shaheen, Ph.D.
Technical Director, Viral and Molecular Core
Tel: 215-898-5180
Fax: 215-573-4446
Email: farida@mail.med.upenn.edu
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Amplification and QA of virus stocks
The Core generates a high titer working stock of virus from seed stocks provided by CFAR Investigators. Working stocks are amplified in PBMC (or other permissive cells if appropriate), quantified by p24 antigen content, confirmed as mycoplasma-free by PCR analysis and validated by sequence analysis of the V3 region.
We will also generate virus stocks from infectious molecular clones (full-length or 5?/3? hemi-genome co-transfection) by 293T transfection (several standard molecular clones available through the Core, or from molecular clones provided by investigator). Virus will be provided as a primary transfection supernatant or, if requested, virus can be further amplified in permissive cells. If necessary, we will grow up plasmids containing proviral clones for users using bacterial growth conditions that minimize homologous recombination. With the investigator?s permission, the viruses may also be added to the Virus Repository.
The CFAR member charges for virus stock growth are:
- $250 per amplification in PBMC of standard virus stock (15 tubes)
- $200 per amplification in cell line (15 tube)
- $175 for viral stock from 293T cells transfection with infectious proviral clone (15 tubes)
- $50 for viral plasmid growth
- Additional services available upon request