MRI: Acquisition of a State of the Art Confocal Microscope at the Center for Biofilm Engineering

1039785斯图尔特该项目将导致在生物膜工程中心（CBE）获得最先进的共聚焦扫描激光显微镜。CBE是一个毕业的NSF工程研究中心，是世界上最大，最古老，最知名的生物膜科学，教育和技术转让中心。新仪器将具有多种功能，例如用于探测生物膜分子微环境的荧光寿命成像（FLIM）能力;用于成像蓝色荧光的紫外线（UV）激光器;加热台和倒置显微镜，以允许医学相关的生物膜成像;无限RAM，这将有效地消除大多数实验的技术障碍;以及新的快速扫描和灵敏检测技术，所有这些都将使生物膜领域的科学真正创新。此次收购将取代一台使用了7年、功能上已经过时的显微镜。美国国家科学基金会的请求得到了M. J.默多克慈善信托基金（占项目总成本的45%）。直接的显微镜观察已经成为深入了解微生物生物膜中复杂的空间结构行为的最有力的工具之一。特别是共聚焦扫描激光显微镜已经成为生物膜研究人员工具包中的重要工具，因为它能够非侵入性地和真实的时间地提供三维信息。这种新的显微镜将促进跨学科科学和工程的各种主题，从藻类生物燃料到医疗设备上的生物膜。

1039785StewartThis project will lead to the acquisition of a state-of-the-art confocal scanning laser microscope at the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE). The CBE is a graduated NSF Engineering Research Center and is the largest, oldest, and best-known center for biofilm science, education, and technology transfer in the world. The new instrument will come with multiple features such as fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) capability for probing biofilm molecular microenvironments; an ultra violet (UV) laser for imaging blue fluorescence; a heated stage and inverted microscope, to allow medically relevant biofilm imaging; unlimited RAM, which will effectively remove a technological barrier to most experiments; and new fast scanning and sensitive detection technology, all of which will enable truly innovative science in the biofilm field. This acquisition will replace a 7-year-old microscope that is functionally obsolete. The request to NSF is matched by an award from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust (45% of total project cost). Direct microscopic observation has been one of the most powerful tools in developing insight into the complex, spatially structured behaviors in microbial biofilms. Confocal scanning laser microscopy in particular has become an essential instrument in the biofilm researcher's toolkit because of its ability to provide three-dimensional information non-invasively and in real time. This new microscope will facilitate interdisciplinary science and engineering on diverse topics ranging from algal biofuels to biofilms on medical devices.