Microfluidic device development for the study of bacterial thermotaxis

这项研究的目的是加深对蛋白质网络的理解，这些蛋白质网络允许细菌进行趋化性和热趋化，即分别感知和游向食物或首选温度。我们建议通过紧密耦合的实验方法和计算建模来发展这样的理解。由于活细胞内的所有信号通路都必须在波动的热环境中发挥作用，我们的努力可能揭示细胞确保忠实信号传递的普遍机制。从人类健康的角度来看，细菌病原体的趋化性与传染性和疾病的维持有关，也可能与热趋化性有关。由于趋化性/热趋化性网络在细菌中广泛存在且保存良好，但不为人类所共享，因此该途径为未来抗生素的开发提供了潜在的靶点。此外，由于活细胞内的所有信号通路都必须在波动的热环境中发挥作用，我们的努力可能揭示细胞确保忠实信号传递的普遍机制。这项研究工具和仪器补助金（RTI）将使我们能够开发微流体装置，以快速量化热传感网络的输出。这些装置的发展可能导致对人类健康和疾病产生影响的诊断仪器。

The aim of this research is to develop a deeper understanding of the network of proteins that allows bacteria to perform chemotaxis and thermotaxis, that is to sense and swim towards food or a preferred temperature, respectively. We propose to develop such an understanding through closely coupled experimental approaches and computational modeling. As all signaling pathways within living cells must function in the context of fluctuating thermal environments, our efforts may reveal universal mechanisms by which cells ensure faithful signaling. From a human health perspective, chemotaxis by bacterial pathogens has been implicated in infectivity and maintenance of disease, and thermotaxis may be implicated as well. Since the chemotaxis/thermotaxis network is widespread and well conserved among bacteria, but is not shared by humans, the pathway presents a potential target for the development of future antibiotics. In addition, as all signaling pathways within living cells must function in the context of fluctuating thermal environments, our efforts may reveal universal mechanisms by which cells ensure faithful signaling. This Research Tool and Instrument Grant (RTI) will allow us to develop microfluidic devices to quickly quantify the output of the thermal sensory network. Development of these devices may lead to diagnostic instruments with impact on human health and disease.