Flow Cytometric Study of Ciliate Physiology

PI建议使用流式细胞仪来收集不同环境中纤毛原生动物的取食、生长和繁殖模式的信息。由此产生的信息可最终用于废水处理设施，并可作为不同生态系统中其他类似微生物的模型系统。原生动物是摄取和消化细菌的单细胞真核微生物。流式细胞术不仅可以提供大规模的统计信息，还可以提供关于单个细胞内部结构的信息。该项目的具体目标包括：(1)制定单个细胞生理状态的指数或衡量标准恒定环境(2)以上(1)的扩展以适应不断变化的环境(3)发展一种不同生理状态的细胞悬浮投喂模型，适用于投喂颗粒的数量密度和组成不同的情况。(4)开发一个数学模型，可以预测纤毛虫种群中细胞特性的联合分布，以及这些分布如何随着环境条件的变化而变化。这两家私人股本公司都受到同行的尊敬，其设施是开展这项工作的理想选择。

The PIs propose to use a flow cytometer to gather information on the feeding, growth, and reproduction patterns of ciliated protozoa in varying environments. The information thus generated could have ultimate use in wastewater treatment facilities as well as serve as a model system for other similar microorganisms in various ecological systems. Protozoa are unicellular, eucaryotic microorganisms that ingest and digest bacteria. Flow cytometry can not only provide large scale statistical information but also information on the internal structure of single cells. The specific objectives of the project include: (1) Development of an index or measure of the physiological state of a single cell in a constant environment (2) Extension of (1) above for changing environments (3) Development of a model of suspension feeding by cells of different physiological states that will be applicable to situations where the number density as well as the composition of the population of particles fed upon vary. (4) Development of a mathematical model that will allow the prediction of the joint distributions of cellular properties in a ciliate population and how these distributions change in response to changes in environmental conditions. Both PIs are well respected by their peers and the facilities are ideal for this work.