Acquisition of a Fluorescence and Chemiluminescence Imaging Platform

多年来，由NSERC资助的舍布鲁克大学生物系至少11名PI及其80名实习生和工作人员科学家的研究计划因缺乏灵敏和易于访问的化学发光和荧光成像平台而大大放缓。这种仪器对于几乎所有分子/细胞生物学和微生物学研究项目都是绝对必要的，因为它可以检测和量化蛋白质、核酸和多种类型的荧光团。*尽管这一点至关重要，但生物系目前配备了一台过时的化学发光成像仪，该成像仪无法检测到荧光，其灵敏度水平远远低于当前系统所达到的水平。现状意味着，我们无法使用这种过时的仪器来检测生物信号的重要部分。由于该系统是20个小组可用的唯一化学发光仪器，它一直在使用，迫使我们实验室近四分之一的实验室依赖胶片进行免疫印迹，这是受训人员进行的最常见的实验之一。这种方法更耗费时间和资源，而且胶片的饱和性质使信号量化的精确度低于现代成像仪。采集基于CCD相机的荧光平台还将通过多重免疫印迹显著加快数据采集，显著减少完成实验所需的工作量。此外，在需要对核酸进行灵敏检测的实验中使用荧光试剂而不是放射性试剂，也将节省宝贵的工作台空间、时间和资源。新的成像仪提供了更高的数据收集效率和吞吐量，这无疑将增加所有共同申请者在赠款竞赛中的出版产出和成功。*为了解决这些长期阻碍我们在免疫学、基因组维护、染色质调节、植物-微生物相互作用和细菌遗传学研究进展的问题，我们申请资金购买Biorad Chemidoc MP平台。该系统结合了化学/氟检测的卓越灵敏度和分辨率，还包括在所有针对这一应用进行测试的领先成像系统中最精细和用户友好的图像分析和量化软件套件。Chemidoc MP系统将完美地补充我们现有的仪器基础，并为我们提供最先进的成像能力，使我们的部门能够完全过渡到基于CCD相机的成像，有效地节省研究资金、时间和资源，同时提高生产率。收购这一系统对我们的研究计划至关重要，将促成许多新的项目，并在很大程度上有助于培训我们大学生物系和理学院几个实验室的高素质人员。**

For a number of years, the NSERC-funded research programs of at least 11 PIs of the Université de Sherbrooke Biology department and their > 80 trainees and staff scientists have been considerably slowed down by the lack of a sensitive and readily accessible chemiluminescence and fluorescence imaging platform. Such an instrument is absolutely necessary for virtually all molecular/cellular biology and microbiology research projects as it allows the detection and quantification of proteins, nucleic acids and multiple types of fluorophores. ******Despite this critical importance, the Biology department is currently equipped with a single outdated chemiluminescence imager that cannot detect fluorescence and has a sensitivity level well below that achieved by current systems. The status quo means that we are unable to detect an important fraction of biological signals using this obsolete apparatus. Since this system is the only chemiluminescence instrument available for > 20 groups, it is continuously used, forcing almost a quarter of our labs to rely on films for immunoblots, one of the most common experiment performed by trainees. This method is more time- and resource-consuming and the saturable nature of films makes signal quantification less precise than with modern imagers. Acquisition of a CCD-camera-based fluorescence platform would also speed up data acquisition dramatically via multiplex immunoblotting, significantly reducing the amount of work required to complete experiments. Furthermore, the use of fluorescent rather than radioactive reagents for experiments that require sensitive detection of nucleic acids would save precious bench space, time and resources as well. Enhanced data collection efficiency and throughput afforded by a new imager would undoubtedly increase the publication outputs and success of all co-applicants in grant competitions. ******To solve these long-standing issues that impede the progress of our research in immunology, genome maintenance, chromatin regulation, plant-microbe interactions and bacterial genetics, we request funding to purchase a Biorad Chemidoc MP platform. This system combines excellent sensitivity and resolution for both chemi/fluo detection and also includes arguably the most elaborate and user-friendly image analysis and quantification software suite amongst all of the leading imaging systems that were tested for this application. The Chemidoc MP system would complement our current instrument base perfectly and provide us with state-of-the-art imaging capabilities, allowing our department to fully transition to CCD-camera-based imaging effectively saving research funds, time and resources while boosting productivity. Acquisition of this system is essential for our research programs and will enable many new projects as well as contribute in a major way to the training of highly qualified personnel from several laboratories in the Biology department and the Faculty of Sciences of our University.**