Controlled Atmospheric Environment for Cell Growth and Manipulation

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Many organisms on this planet live under micro-aerobic or anaerobic environments, such as in the human gut, where they are exposed to a variety gases that dictate cellular metabolism. As such, the ability to grow and manipulate cell cultures under a controlled and constant environment is essential to understanding the mechanisms of action of these systems. The Zamble lab requires controlled-environment conditions to study the unique metal metabolism in several human pathogens such as Helicobacter pylori and Escherichia coli. The Nitz lab is developing tellurium based probes to study hypoxia in tumor tissue, another system with reduced oxygen availability, and to put unique labels into proteins. The equipment requested delivers the breadth of gaseous environments required, and supports culture growth, manipulation, and analysis, highlighting its central position as core infrastructure for our research programs. We currently do not have such capabilities. Combined, in our groups we are currently mentoring 15 students and post-doctoral fellows, and all of these trainees will be trained on, and have access to, this key piece of infrastructure. Furthermore, this type of instrument is commonly used in the biotechnology, biological, and pharmaceutical industries, so hands-on training and method development is beneficial to students seeking future employment in these areas.