Host-Microbiome Research Network

University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
What the facility does

Impact of the microbiota on health and disease

Areas of expertise

The Host-Microbiome Research Network provides infrastructure to study the impact of the microbiota on health and disease. We provide expertise in flow cytometry, microscopy, germ-free and gnotobiotic mouse models of human disease, anaerobic culturing of microbes and their growth in chemostat cultures.

Research services

Flow cytometry and cell sorting, super resolution microscopy, live imaging and confocal microscopy, germ-free and gnotobiotic mouse models, defined microbial cultures, anaerobic culturing facilities, droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR).

Sectors of application
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment

Name of specialized lab

Name of equipment in use

Description of function

Flow cytometry laboratory

 A number of flow cytometers and cell sorters available

Instruments for immune phenotyping

Microscope imaging laboratory

Spinning disk confocal, super-resolution microscope, live cell imaging, Axioscan slide scanner

Microscopy and image analysis

Gnotobiotc mouse facility

Germ-free mice and housing, anaerobic culturing facility

Germ-free and defined colonization of mice; anaerobic culturing