Behavioral Phenotyping Facility (BPF)

-Interim Regulation-

This document regulates the use of the Behavioral Phenotyping Facility (BPF) during its current phase of partial operation. Only the services and areas explicitly listed below are currently available.

This regulation will be updated once the facility becomes fully operational.

Animal use authorization

The legal requirement and any ethical approvals for conducting behavioral tests fall entirely under the responsibility of the users.

Facility locations and available services

The BPF is distributed across two separate locations within the Vallisneri building. Each location has specific access requirements, authorized activities, and rules.

1) Poecilid Fish Room – Basement, Vallisneri Building

Available services:

- Ethovision XT Live: live video recording and tracking of fish (poecilids and zebrafish)

- Arenas (recording stations) for other fish behavioral assays

2) 4^th Floor South – Vallisneri Building

Available services:

- Ethovision XT workstation: the facility provides access to EthoVision XT for automated tracking and behavioral analysis of recorded videos.

- Some behavioral assays can be carried out in this room, but it is located outside a licensed vertebrate animal facility (stabulario). Therefore, those behavioral assays are restricted to small animals not covered by the D. Lgs. 26/2014, such as zebrafish larvae up to 5 days post-fertilisation or small invertebrates (e.g. drosophila). Any recording or use of animals in this room must be discussed in advance and approved by the Facility Manager.

Ethovision XT use

To use Ethovision XT Live (fish room) or Ethovision XT workstation (4^th floor) without operator assistance, all users must have successfully attended the course “ETHOVISION XT Basics” (2 hours) held periodically at the Department of Biology (Instructor: Dr. Alessandro Devigili).

EthoVision XT is installed on two dedicated workstations: one located on the Fourth Floor South and one located in the building’s  basement, Poecilid Fish Room. The software is activated through a single physical license key. Users are personally responsible for the license key for the entire duration of its use. After each session, the key must be returned to its designated location at the 4th Floor.

Poecilid Fish Room

Access

People: Access to the Poecilid Fish Room is restricted to researchers in possess of the appropriate ethics approval. For handle fish or conducting procedures, the operator must be individually authorized. If in doubts check with the facility manager in advance.

Fish: Only fish from the Vallisneri animal facility (i.e. poecilids room or zebrafish facility) can enter the Poecilid Fish Room.

Operational and hygiene rules

Access to fish room is limited to a maximum of 4 people at any given time, including Charles River staff. The warning tape line in front of the changing area must not be crossed while wearing non-protective shoes or clothing.

Before entering the facility, users are required to wear either disposable shoe covers (or dedicated shoes reserved exclusively for the BPF). Personal shoes must be left on the designated space. A laboratory coat must be worn at all times within the facility.

Direct contact with animals is strictly forbidden. The use of disposable gloves is recommended, and hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and water both before and after handling fish or aquarium system water.

All users must employ only the dedicated, clearly labeled nets provided in the appropriate containers. Nets are stored in a sodium hypochlorite solution and must be rinsed thoroughly before use. After use, nets must be returned to the correct container.

At the end of each use, users are responsible for ensuring that floors, sink and work surfaces are left clean and dry. Any extra lights switch on and not connected to automatic timers, must be switched off, and doors properly closed before leaving the facility.

Responsibility and compliance

All users are responsible for ensuring all users are required to actively ensure compliance with this regulation.

Booking system

Authorized users will book BPF services via the dedicated online system (https://slotify.ict.unipd.it/secure/facility).