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

1039785 Stewart该项目将导致在生物膜工程中心(CBE)购买最先进的共焦扫描激光显微镜。CBE是一个毕业的NSF工程研究中心，是世界上最大、最古老和最知名的生物膜科学、教育和技术转移中心。新仪器将配备多项功能，例如用于探测生物膜分子微环境的荧光寿命成像(FLIM)功能；用于成像蓝色荧光的紫外线(UV)激光器；用于进行医学相关生物膜成像的加热工作台和倒置显微镜；将有效消除大多数实验的技术障碍的无限RAM；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实现真正的创新科学。此次收购将取代已有7年历史、功能已过时的显微镜。向NSF提出的请求得到了M.J.默多克慈善信托基金的奖励(占项目总成本的45%)。直接显微镜观察是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。尤其是共聚焦扫描激光显微镜，由于其能够非侵入性和实时地提供三维信息，已经成为生物膜研究人员工具箱中的重要工具。这种新的显微镜将促进从藻类生物燃料到医疗设备上的生物膜等不同主题的跨学科科学和工程。

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.