Work station for microplate analysis

我的研究项目主要集中在宿主-病原体的相互作用，包括猪链球菌（猪脑膜炎和心内膜炎的病原体）和牙龈卟啉单胞菌（人类慢性牙周炎的病原体）。我们感兴趣的是展示病原体如何与宿主细胞（内皮细胞、巨噬细胞等）相互作用，在组织中定植，抵抗免疫系统，放大炎症反应并引起组织损伤。本研究的结果旨在为这些病原体引起感染的机制提供新的见解。这些信息将有助于制定控制和/或预防这些感染的有效手段。所要求的微孔板分析工作站，一个微孔板洗涤器和一个微孔板读取器，将主要用于在细菌及其产物刺激哺乳动物细胞后进行免疫测定，以定量宿主来源的生物标志物（细胞因子、趋化因子、基质金属蛋白酶等）。该微孔板阅读器还将用于监测猪链球菌生物膜的形成。最后，宿主和细菌细胞的蛋白酶产生和活性将通过使用显色底物的微孔板阅读器进行定量。这项拨款的关注将扩大和改善学生获得多功能和最新的分析设备的机会。

My research program focuses on the host-pathogen interactions and involves Streptococcus suis (causative agent of meningitis and endocarditis in swine) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (causative of chronic periodontitis in humans). We are interested in demonstrating how the pathogens interact with host cells (endothelial cells, macrophages, etc) to colonize tissues, to resist the immune system, to amplify the inflammatory reaction and to cause tissue damage. Results from this research are aimed to provide new insights into the mechanisms by which these pathogens cause infections. This information will help for the development of effective means for controlling and/or preventing these infections. The requested work station for microplate analysis, a microplate washer and a microplate reader, will be mainly used to conduct immunoassays to quantify host-derived biomarkers (cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, etc) following stimulation of mammalian cells with bacteria and their products. The microplate reader will also be used to monitor biofilm formation by the swine pathogen S. suis. Finally, proteinase production and activity by host and bacterial cells will be quantified by the microplate reader using chromogenic substrates. The obtention of this grant will expand and improve student access to versatile and up-to-date analytical equipment.