Advanced imaging system and image/pattern analyses software for applications in studies of biological and engineered systems

这个捆绑的成像系统和最先进的图像和图案分析软件包(BioNumerics 7.1版)是达尔豪西大学工程系建立我们的食品科学、生物工艺和环境工程以及应用微生物学研究能力的长期计划的一部分。研究工具将使我们能够(A)记录凝胶、斑点和平板中的DNA、RNA、蛋白质、多肽、生物活性和脂类(成像系统)，以及(B)使用先进的软件(成像和图案分析软件)分析图案、大小、相似性、环境和技术因素之间的关系、微生物多样性、生物活性产量、脂类分布等。获得研究工具对于我们在以下领域开展基础和应用项目至关重要：食品和水的质量和安全、微生物污染物的运输和来源追踪、生态学、生物修复、保健食品的开发以及从废流中生产增值生物化学品的工艺。设备/软件应用的例子包括分析从奶牛、土壤、水和农产品中分离的大肠杆菌菌株的相似性、家居和采矿废水生物修复过程中的微生物动态、废水中抗药性基因的多样性、作为海洋食物网生物标志物的类脂、酶消化与生物活性化合物产量之间的关系等。

This bundled request for an imaging system, and state-of-the art image and pattern analyses software package (BioNumerics Version 7.1) is part of a long term plan to build our food science, bio-process and environmental engineering and applied microbiology research capability in the Faculty of Engineering at Dalhousie University. The research tools will enable us to (a) document DNA, RNA, proteins, peptides, bioactives and lipids in gels, blots and plates (Imaging System) and (b) analyze the patterns, sizes, similarities, relationships between environmental and technical factors, microbial diversity, bioactive yields, lipid profiles, etc., using advanced software (Imaging and Pattern Analyses Software). Acquisition of the research tools is essential for our ability to carry out fundamental and applied projects in the area of food and water quality and safety, microbial contaminant transport and source tracking, ecology, bioremediation, development of nutraceuticals and processes for production of value-added biochemicals from waste streams. Examples of equipment/software uses include analyses of the similarity of Escherichia coli strains isolated from cows, soils, water and produce, microbial dynamics during bioremediation of domestic and mining wastewaters, diversity of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater, lipids as biomarkers in marine food webs, relationship between enzymatic digestion and yields of bioactive compounds, and so on.