Services

ACOI is a scientific resource centre within the University of Coimbra that promotes interdisciplinary research linking biodiversity, fisheries, and blue biotechnology. It comprises a diverse team of experts with a range of skills and expertise in various fields of phycology and marine biology. It enables access to technological platforms with cutting edge equipment well supported by competent staff. Provides privileged access to a unique and one of the largest living microalgae and cyanobacteria culture collection.

ACOI - Labs & Platforms

Laboratories and technological platforms for Molecular Biology, Analytical and Structural Chemistry, Imaging and Ecotoxicology, including access to cultivation-controlled systems and a collection of more than 4000 microalgae and cyanobacteria strains. Equipment available includes:

• DIC,

• Optical microscopes coupled with digital photographic cameras,

• PCR instrumentation,

• GC-MS, GC-FID, GC-BID, HPLC-UV, LCMS/MS, UHPLC-RI, UHPLC-DAD, and UHPLC-TOF-MS chromatographies,

• Proton (1H), Deuterium (2H) and Carbon-13 (13C) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (500 and 600MHz, NMR),

• Nutrient analyser,

• TDS,

• uHPLC-DAD and uHPLC-RI, GC-FID and GC-BID spectrophotometers,

• Freeze-dryers,

• Molecular tools,

• Structural and chemical analysis.

ACOI - Ecosystem access

Estuarine ecosystem access by the research vessel "Darwin I" to collect samples within Portuguese estuaries: 4.7m, 20hp engine. Allow basic work in oceanography and fishing.

Bioresources available

Culture collection (on-site and remote service)

• ACOI Culture Collection (http://acoi.ci.uc.pt) - 4000 strains of cyanobacteria and microalgae from Portuguese environments (marine, brackish, freshwater, soil and aerial)

Species collected upon request (on-site and remote service)

• Species from local marine and estuarine flora and fauna from the Mondego estuary (including saltmarshes, mudflats), adjacent coastal areas and estuaries in the Portuguese Atlantic coast.

Support offered

Technical and scientific support will be assigned to the visitors according to the specific objectives of the TA. Visitors will be provided their own office and lab space and they will have full independence and will receive required logistical (reception, integration into infrastructure through the Liaison Officer), technical (labs and platforms dedicated technical staff) or scientific support (if in-house expertise is required).

Users carrying out procedures with live animals must hold an animal experimentation certificate and a license from National authorities (DGAV) must be required in advance. Typical access consists in finalizing the planning (generally initiated remotely), the setting up and the monitoring of experiments. Longer experiments may be set up by the service provider and the visit will be for monitoring and finalizing experiments, preparation of storage or other materials, collection of samples for various purposes, storage in appropriate media. Some samples may need to be initially locally analysed in laboratories and platforms. Paperwork and shipment costs of special materials, reagents or equipment will be the responsibility of the users. Costs related to shipment of samples may be covered by the TA and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The scientific atmosphere of the centre is international and informal. Regular seminars and conferences provide excellent opportunities for users to share and take part in ongoing research activities, expecting future collaborations.

Pre-flight cancellation insurance and full health/work/travel insurance covering pre-existing medical conditions and including world-wide travel assistance and emergency air transportation services, are required covering the full period of access from departure to return. This is a private cost not covered by the TA.

Modality of access

Access costs will be declared on the basis of the Unit cost for ACOI Laboratories and Technological Platforms. Actual costs will be the method used for ACOI Ecosystem Access.

Units of access: user/day for laboratories and platforms user-group/day for ecosystem access.

Duration of work: Typically, one or two users stay for 20-30 days, depending on the type of work. A typical project consists of approx. 20 units of access for laboratories and platforms, and 3 units for ecosystem access.

Expected output/deliverables for users: Users will be able to carry out their projects according to prearranged planning, and they can do at least some of the analysis in situ. If requested, users can benefit 111 from interaction with a local group.

Users are expected to test new methodologies, obtain samples and data from different kinds of experiments, e.g., nutrition, growth and physiology, behaviour. Users are expected to provide a seminar and a report of the visit. Scientific papers, patents and/or other outputs are expected from the visit.