Vectra Polaris microscope imaging system

项目概要 该提案为 Vectra® Polaris™ 自动定量成像系统 (Polaris™) 寻求资金，这是一个国家 最先进的多光谱成像显微镜，可为分枝杆菌内的多个 NIH 支持的项目提供服务 科罗拉多州立大学 (CSU) 的研究实验室 (MRL)。我们的集体使命是开发有效的 针对影响全世界数百万人的分枝杆菌疾病的化疗和疫苗。生物活性和 只有通过表征宿主才能充分了解候选疫苗和治疗方法的安全性 immune response, primarily by evaluating large networks of immune biomarkers through flow cytometry and 免疫组织化学。 MRL 研究人员正在寻求通过以下方式可视化免疫生物标志物的空间表达： multiplex staining of intact tissue samples obtained from preclinical models of mycobacterial diseases.直到现在， 通过共聚焦和传统免疫荧光对生物标志物进行显微分析受到极大限制 autofluorescence in tissue (especially in formalin fixed and diseased tissue) and low signal-to-noise ratios.的 Polaris™ 系统具有一套独特的微观功能，与 inForm® 工作站相结合，可实现 simultaneous identification and quantification of multiple targets and their spatial relationships in tissue sections 和微阵列。 A critical aspect of the PolarisTM multispectral technology is the ability to readily distinguish autofluorescence from positive biomarker signal, improving the signal-to-noise ratio substantially.这允许 对样品进行更灵敏、更准确的分析，并能够揭示真实的细胞间相互作用。的 系统用户友好，其自动扫描系统可实现高速数字和全玻片扫描 在明场或荧光下放大 10-40 倍。照明系统的性质显着降低 deleterious effects such as photobleaching and photodamage, and thus specimens can be imaged for longer 比使用例如共焦显微镜的时间长。此外，基于先进的机器学习 approaches of the included software automatically segment and quantitate tissue structures.北极星™系统 will be incorporated into our existing microscopy core facility in order to expand access to trainees and other research groups at CSU and in Northern Colorado, while prioritizing access for the major users.并入 the foundational core will sustain long term operation and provide consistent oversight and training.总而言之， this state-of-the-art imaging technology is of critical importance to development of chemotherapies and vaccines by the MRL and will add value to multiple other NIH-supported projects at CSU.

PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal seeks funding for a Vectra® Polaris™ Automated Quantitative Imaging System (Polaris™), a state- of-the-art multispectral imaging microscope to serve multiple NIH-supported projects within the Mycobacteria Research Laboratories (MRL) at Colorado State University (CSU). Our collective mission is to develop effective chemotherapies and vaccines for mycobacterial diseases affecting millions worldwide. The biological activity and safety profile of candidate vaccines and treatments can only be fully understood through characterizing the host immune response, primarily by evaluating large networks of immune biomarkers through flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. MRL researchers are seeking to visualize the spatial expression of immune biomarkers by multiplex staining of intact tissue samples obtained from preclinical models of mycobacterial diseases. Until now, microscopic analysis of biomarkers through confocal and traditional immunofluorescence was drastically limited by autofluorescence in tissue (especially in formalin fixed and diseased tissue) and low signal-to-noise ratios. The Polaris™ system has a unique set of microscopic capabilities that combined with the inForm® workstation allows simultaneous identification and quantification of multiple targets and their spatial relationships in tissue sections and microarrays. A critical aspect of the PolarisTM multispectral technology is the ability to readily distinguish autofluorescence from positive biomarker signal, improving the signal-to-noise ratio substantially. This allows for a more sensitive and accurate analysis of samples and enables true cell-to-cell interactions to be revealed. The system is user-friendly, and its automated scanning system allows for high speed digital and whole-slide scanning between 10-40x in brightfield or fluorescence. The nature of the illumination system significantly decreases deleterious effects such as photobleaching and photodamage, and thus specimens can be imaged for longer periods of time than with, for example, a confocal microscope. Furthermore, the advanced machine-learning based approaches of the included software automatically segment and quantitate tissue structures. The Polaris™ system will be incorporated into our existing microscopy core facility in order to expand access to trainees and other research groups at CSU and in Northern Colorado, while prioritizing access for the major users. Incorporation into the foundational core will sustain long term operation and provide consistent oversight and training. In summary, this state-of-the-art imaging technology is of critical importance to development of chemotherapies and vaccines by the MRL and will add value to multiple other NIH-supported projects at CSU.