1. Request Submission via PPMS
All requests for vector production must be submitted through the PPMS system.
When submitting your request, please:
- Specify:
- Type of preparation: Crude or Concentrated
- If titration is desired
- Size of production (volume and needed titer— details in PPMS)
- Any additional information relevant for virus production (e.g. specific requests for packaging or pseudotyping)
- Upload a plasmid map for each transfer plasmid used
- Confirm that you obtained all necessary Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) for all plasmids, including transfer and helper plasmids.
2. Once the request is approved in PPMS, users must deliver plasmids to the Viral Service Facility:
Drop-off location:
- Virus Services Lab, @Sunstone, 1st Floor (I23.O1.038)
- Put your plasmids or plates in a plastic bag, labelled with your name and ideally with PPMS project number
Form of Plasmid delivery:
- Preferred option: Freshly transformed and streaked E.coli plate. The facility will pick a colony, perform Maxi preps, and sequence the entire plasmid.
- Mini-preps and low-concentration plasmids can be submitted. The facility will transform them into competent cells, perform Maxi preps, and sequence the entire plasmid.
- If users prefer to submit their own plasmid preps to start virus production directly, the following criteria apply:
- Midi or Maxi prep only, Endotoxin-free
- Amount: min. 20 µg (crude prep), 90 µg (concentrated prep)
- Concentration: >400 ng/µl
- Verification: Whole plasmid sequencing will still be performed at the virus facility
3. Lentiviral Production Workflow
Once all plasmids and documentation are verified, lentiviral preps will be produced according to request specifications and the facility will notify users upon completion via mail and in PPMS.
Note: Additional crude preps produced in a batch in parallel reduce average time spent per virus prep and are therefore offered at a discounted rate.
4. Virus Aliquot Pickup
Completed viral preps will be available for pickup in the BSL2 -80°C freezer:
- BSL2 Cell Culture Room, Moonstone (I24.EG.013)
Viral aliquots will be delivered in tear- and leak proof PathoSeal Bags and must be removed from the BSL2 room on dry ice in a Styrofoam box. PathoSeal Bags are only allowed to be opened in a BSL2 environment.
5. Pricing Lentiviral/Retroviral preps
You can find price estimates for internal users here