MRI-RUI: Acquisition of a Spinning confocal Microscope to Advance Interdepartmental Research and Training at Missouri State University-Springfield

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。密苏里州立大学（MSU）获得了一笔赠款，用于购买一台激光自旋共聚焦荧光显微镜，该显微镜配备了横河自旋共聚焦扫描仪和四条激光线，用于该大学和该地区的研究和教学。该仪器不仅使研究人员能够显著提高显微成像的质量，而且还为他们提供了执行先进技术的机会，如光漂白后荧光恢复（FRAP）、荧光共振能量转移（FRET）、标本光学切片和双通道实时成像。所有的参与者，包括PI和联合PI代表了一个跨部门的教师群体，尽管他们的研究兴趣不同，但他们在使用的方法和仪器上具有共性。研究活动的可预见结果包括跨学科研究、培训和合作的进步。这个新系统将为研究人员提供令人兴奋的机会，以追求几个最新的研究途径，包括：1)揭示动力蛋白样蛋白在胞吞作用中的作用，2)表征白细胞介素-10下游的抗炎信号网络，3)揭示ATAF1在植物对白粉病病原体抗性中的作用，4)了解肌动蛋白细胞骨架重组在葡萄对白粉病病原体防御反应中的作用，5)监测碳纳米管在细胞中的传递，6)监测基于导电聚合物纳米线的荧光生物传感器，7)研究神经胶质细胞通讯，8)研究淡水溪流生物膜中粪便大肠菌群的生长，9)研究P2核苷酸受体在分子水平上的功能。在大学和该地区的多个教室环境中使用共聚焦显微镜将扩大该仪器的影响。使用该仪器的训练将被纳入我们五个学术部门的课程，包括传统课堂和学生自主研究。获得旋转共聚焦系统将对密歇根州立大学社区的许多方面产生影响。一个直接的结果将是扩大主要用户和学生的调查能力。因此，几个系的教师将更有能力(i)通过会议演讲和同行评审的出版物为科学界做出贡献，（ii）竞争外部研究资金。密歇根州立大学的研究形象将有助于招聘和留住高素质的教师和学生。此外，建议制度的建立将扩大与本地大学的跨学科合作。总的来说，这些领域的更大成功将增加学生的研究机会，并提高该地区本科和研究生教育的质量。该仪器的可用性也将大大有助于当地社区的外展计划，以教育家庭和激励年轻人从事科学和工程事业。研究项目的成果将通过学生和教师在地区或国家会议、同行评议的期刊出版物和互联网上的报告进行交流。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).A grant has been awarded to Missouri State University (MSU) to acquire a laser spinning confocal fluorescence microscope equipped with a Yokogawa spinning confocal scanner and four laser lines for research and teaching at the university and in the region. This instrument will not only allow researchers to achieve significantly improved quality in microscopic imaging but will also afford them the opportunity to perform advanced techniques such as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), optical sectioning of specimens, and dual-channel real-time imaging. All participants including the PI and Co-PIs represent an interdepartmental group of faculty who, despite diverse research interests, possess commonalities in their employed approaches and instrumentation. Foreseeable outcomes from the research activities include advancement of interdisciplinary research, training, and collaboration. This new system will offer researchers the exciting opportunity to pursue several up to date research avenues including: 1) uncovering the roles of dynamin-like proteins in endocytosis, 2) characterizing anti-inflammatory signaling networks downstream of interleukin-10, 3) revealing the role of ATAF1 in plant resistance to powdery mildew pathogens, 4) understanding the role of actin cytoskeleton reorganization during the defense responses by grapevine to powdery mildew pathogens, 5) monitoring the delivery of carbon nanotubes in cells, 6) monitoring fluorescent biosensors based on conducting polymer nanowires, 7) studying neuron-glial cell communication, 8) investigating fecal coliform growth in biofilms derived from freshwater streams, and 9) studying P2 nucleotide receptor function at the molecular level. Employment of the confocal microscopy in multiple classroom settings at the university and in the region will broaden the impact of the instrument. Training with the instrument will be incorporated into the curriculums for five of our academic departments, both in traditional classes and student independent research. Acquisition of the spinning confocal system will impact many facets of the MSU community and beyond. An immediate outcome will be the expanded investigative capacity of the major users and students. As a result, faculty in several departments will be better positioned to (i) contribute to the scientific community by way of conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications and (ii) compete for external research funding. A heightened research profile at MSU will aid in the recruitment and retention of high-quality faculty and students. Furthermore, the establishment of the proposed system will broaden interdisciplinary collaboration with local universities. Collectively, greater success in these areas will increase student research opportunities and heighten the quality of undergraduate and graduate education in the region. The availability of this instrument will also contribute greatly towards the outreach programs in the local community to educate families and motivate young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. Outcomes of the research projects will be communicated through presentations by students and faculty at regional or national meetings, in peer reviewed journal publications, and on the internet.